As far back as the Egyptians, even farther, hair is considered a statement in beauty. Queens’s hair piled up for miles, Mozarts prized performances delivered with towering wigs. Parliament to this day is a wig fest! I am in awe of the creators of those updos. Now let’s fast forward to 1990s where we find Heather learning updos.
I am in a hip hair salon in New York. I’ve got my Own chair. I have elevated to the status of having an assistant. I’m ready for anyone and anything… anything but this woman sitting in my chair with hair down to her waist.
“Dear God in heaven why have you given me CHER.”
It get’s better, she wants an updo…of course, she does. I suck at updos…but I’m gonna try. Mind you she’s in my chair because everyone else is busy, and she has a wedding.
*me smoldering with hate for the front desk girl, she knows I hate updos*
Give me a cut- perm- color highlight- wigs for the temple! I CAN DO THOSE! No…not today. I have, ‘updo girl’ with 70’s hair.
These are not easy times as a stylist- they are scary. You are entering a section of style that NO one can help you with but, YOU. You cannot fake this- you cannot talk your way out of this. (Mind you some really can do both.) In reality, no matter how much you’ve convinced someone what you created was amazing, I promise you she has a friend that will tell her she looks like hell.
I think my let down with updos was finding out how hard they are to do! I thought it would be easy. I would watch my old boss Lenore, study her posture, where she would strategically place the bobby pins. I would work for hours folding, scrunching and braiding my mannequins hair. My masterpieces would defy gravity in ways that Trevor Sorbie would beam with pride over my shoulder. I would step back from my hair art and realize. I have just created a pile of shit on some unfortunate client. My imaginary Trevor Sorbie has slapped me with a wet glove across my face.
I sucked. Not only did I suck, but I also sucked out loud.
I would get so mad that hair wouldn’t move the way I wanted. I would talk to hair- try to reason with it. Like a man rolling dice at a Vegas table, I would talk to the hair and beg it to do something amazing.
Me: whispers into the back of a clients head. “Please hair, just be pretty will you.”
Client: I’m sorry Heather did you say something?
Me: No *looks at hair threatening* No, nothing.
I would spend so much time on clients hair I would have sweat pouring out of me. I couldn’t look up, no, I was busy, too busy to bother looking up to see her face. She’d just have to wait until I got done to talk to her. I was going to make this hair rock! And when I got done – I would ask. “Do you like it?”
You know how in a horror movie when the spooky doll head turns her head to the side in slow motion and the eyes are empty? Yeah well, That is the look I got.
I had spent over an hour creating A pile of hair shit. God those first couple of updos were what nightmares were made of for both the client and I. I’m certain there are clients out there still afraid to get updo’s again because of me, and looking back, I’m surprised I kept going, but I did.
Good news, I’ve gotten better. So why am I telling you this story?
I am telling you this for reasons you stylists need to hear. The ones who dread trying to do an updo, you need to hear this. Hairdressing is a very private thing, it’s you creating something out of nothing. I know that puts pressure on you but you need to see it from a different side. Not the scared side but brave side! When Cher sits in your chair do your best! Geez, there are no excuses anymore. You have Instagram for crap sakes, you can avoid my trama if you just take the time to try! Learn different curls. Curling iron, flat iron, hot curlers, bendies they are ALL different. Now learn to crimp, section, create a base. And don’t kick yourself too much, your learning what not to do! Have fun and ask questions to the stylist who has a better understanding. SO Go!! Create piles of shit for a bit then one day- you’ll create something that amazes you. And not just the hair it’s the satisfaction of watching your client leave your salon with a posture of pose and beauty that matches how you just made her feel. You did that!
Go forth and create piles of crap!
Author and salon owner Heather Lea
Owner of BookPressed.com
whackedadventures.com 