Wednesday 9 November 2011

The Root of the Problem.......

When I am passed a compliment it is accepted graciously. However, when it is from a person whom I admire, my spirits seem to overreact.  Helen is one of those people. Recently Helen returned from France stating that I looked very French.  "Ah…savoir-faire at last" I thought.....but not for long!  

My husband received his best hair cut here in Provence.
A fortnight ago, despite being on a 2 week break from work , I was unavailable to the world because I had a grey halo and Marc, my colourist, was fully booked out .….for 10 days! Only Marc is allowed to colour my hair. My suffering at the hands of  “professional colourists” in trying to achieve the “sun kissed” look is similar to that caused by bad cutters, but not as prolonged. There appears to be a problem with the porosity and proteins of my locks to which a number of colourists cannot adjust. I have been temporarily (very temporarily) orangutan orange, jet black, flamingo pink and white- blonde à la Marylyn Munro…… Hours of my life wasted in the hairdresser's chair with accompanying dangerously high, cortisol levels!
Then there was the episode of having litres of milk poured on my scalp. The colourist, Paul, forgot to set the timer, so he left me dozing with chemicals in my hair until I was woken by a fierce burning sensation. I had been brewing for an additional hour while he pranced around his salon gossiping with his celebrity clients.  When Paul sighted my burnt scalp the salon suddenly resembled an ants nest with all the worker ants focused on drenching my head with milk.  I was most unimpressed, as was my scalp. It took weeks for it to heal and, “to add insult to injury” the resulting colour was indescribable!  


So to grey or not to grey seems to be my perennial question.  Going au natural - what ever that may be – is very tempting. Grey and white hair can be so elegant and flattering if one has the appropriate skin tone and texture. But for the pale, and pasty brigade, of which I am one, grey hair can be aging.

The trouble with my grey hair is that its growth is erratic. As soon as a wisp of the grey sees some daylight, it sprouts forth at a frenetic pace, with profound social implications if my colourist is unavailable! 

After "fluffing about" at home and having to cancel some social engagements during my 2 weeks of holidays, I've decided that life is too short to be in self-imposed exile waiting for an appointment to have the “roots done”. And my hair is too unpredictable to make a booking chez le coiffeur, weeks ahead…So perhaps I’ve answered my own question…... But have I got the courage?

8 comments:

French Basketeer.com said...

In such cases, time for a good hat, me thinks!!

Ann said...

Have you ever been burgundy? Ha- I have!

With my very fine, child-like hair, coloring it also gives my hair added body. I have colored it myself for the majority of the last 15 years- you CAN do it! I am lucky with only a few areas of grey, so those are what I concentrate on in emergencies. I do occasionally go to the stylist for highlights as I can't quite get them fine enough to look "sun-kissed."

Virginia said...

Go for it darlin. It's very freeing not to be eternally at the mercy of your colorist.

Mary Ann Pickett said...

Or do what I do....highlights that sort of hide the gray to an extent?

Jo Farmer said...

Scary times at the hands of a thoughtless colourist... I use a hair dye that is more shampoo than dye. Just slip the gloves on, comb into your hair, cover for 15-20 minutes then wash. Condition for a couple of minutes and you're ready to go. Ammonia free too!

BTW, thanks for stopping by Eliza, appreciate your lovely comments.

Jo x

Carla said...

Ahhh the hairdresser... What a dilemma.. I remember once by sister, a beauitful blonde henna herself orange.. Weeks and months of hairdresser appts.. Carla

LaPouyette said...

Here we are again! Just had mine colored blond a few weeks ago, but now the color is faded already and I'm thinking to stay rather gray in the future instead of spending over 50 Euros with the result of having the crisis!
I might try to do my own coloring, eventually.....
But - I keep reminding myself that the real beauty is in our self, it just does not work all the time :)

Sorry for late commenting, just back from Germany and sorting out everything here.

Hope that all is well at your end, any good news about your house in France ???

Warmest greetings,
karin

Meine Dinge Franka said...

I have the same *problem* as you.
I'm going on coloring, but sometimes I think it would be pretty to have such a lovely white hair like my mother!

♥ Franka