At last ‘A life’
By Julie D Cole

Chapter 71 The Salon

I looked at her and for a moment I didn’t quite know what to say. ‘Well I know this style is a bit butch because of the way I’ve grown up. I’ve just not really had much chance to be myself and try anything else.’

‘Mmm I thought that perhaps it was another reason. Your sister has a nice style so why not you?’

‘Well dad was always wanting to make me more of a rough and tumble type. He would have been happier if I was a boy. So this is my first chance to spoil myself and this weekend is a special treat to myself. It’s all because I was promoted at work.’

‘Really you lucky thing. I wish I could find a new job or a big promotion. Something to get me out of here. What do you do for a living?’

I was relieved to change the subject. My fear was she’d guessed her client had something to hide.

Julie glanced at me and smiled. Later she told me that the color disappeared from my face and then came back as if I was a thermometer being dipped in and out of fluid.

I just whispered to her not to say anything and she did a mock biting of her tongue and then turned to Kim, her stylist and asked if we could look at some styles in their catalogues and magazines.

‘Sure you can girls. Do you need any advice.’

‘Can we just look first please and maybe have a chat about it together?’

Then I answered Jackie’s question and started to tell her about my promotion but she was already distracted. I stuttered to a stop because I thought that she wasn’t interested in the answer.

She looked back at me and said ‘Do you mind me saying but with that hair style you are going to be sending out the wrong signals. I’m not sure that you could pass as a boy though unless you bulked up a bit. Is that what you and your dad want?’

‘No not at all. I hate this style.’

‘We don’t get much chance to be adventurous in this salon but we do freelance work that is more exiting with some regular clients. How far away do you live?’

‘We only live about 40 miles away.’

‘Oooh who is your regular stylist? They should be struck off. I know we can do a lot better. It’s as if they just cut it with some sheep shears. My God, how much do you pay? You should ask for your money back.’

I started to answer her question to tell her that I didn’t have a regular stylist when she said, ‘So what do you do then? Are you in advertising or sales or something?’

‘ Well I was a financial and administration officer and I was being trained for the Managers role’

‘My God didn’t they use any conditioner on your hair you’ve got loads of split ends. You need my special treatment and you should let me visit and do your hair for you at home. I don’t mind travelling 40 miles for the right price.’

‘Well I try to keep my hair in good condition with regular washing and a conditioner.’

‘So are you a boss then?’

‘Well I was supposed to take over as a department head but…’

‘God they must have had blunt shears and why didn’t they treat your hair or lift it and color it a bit?’

‘Well this is my natural color and…’

‘I had a chance to be a trainee secretary but I’d not really got the qualifications at school. That was just a waste of a few years for me and it interfered with my social life.’ I thought no way, I didn’t want to start work at 8-30 am. It was like being at school’

‘Really but you could have studied as well couldn’t you?’

‘ The best thing I can recommend is that we shave your head and start again.’

‘What?’

‘Look I can probably avoid that if you trust me but it’s up to you. First I recommend a nice cleansing treatment and then a super wash and some conditioner. It depends what style you want.’

I thought about a more modern style’

‘I did hate school because I was no good at anything. Except boys of course where I finished top of the class.’

‘So are you married then because you have a ring?’

This job is OK really ‘cos we get some quiet days and Kim and I can style each other’s hair.’ We get to use the facilities if it’s quiet and it’s not far to Leeds and Manchester for shopping.’

‘How about coffee girls. What is it Black or White?’ I’ll get Hazel to sort some out. Where has she gone?’

I had a gap to speak ‘Do you use the spray tan.’

‘Do you say this is your natural color. Surely not?’

‘Well I’m thinking of a change. I like your hair color do you think a lighter color would suit me?’

‘Did you two ever get to Manchester for nights out? It’s fantastic and we just love to get to Blackpool for 2 day binges. We get special discounts at one of our sister hotels.’

She then turned to Hazel who was a trainee and organized some brochures that she recommended me to look at and at the same time she was scanning her appointment book.

‘Just ring reception and say I’m OK tomorrow morning. I will start early at 10 am. Then don’t forget the coffee. Also I’m meeting the girls later so can you book a table for us at Antonio’s. ’

I was being ignored and I pinched myself to see if I was still there.

‘Jackie, what about my hair? Do you think I should change the color?’

‘No not really. What I think is that we need to find you a more modern feminine style and then we can do some color tones. We might streak it a bit and add some deeper color on top’
‘So you think I should have a different color then?’

‘Let’s look at you from the side. We’ll just put some tones in it so that it is lighter at the ends and then add some gentle streaks.’

I realized that I’d got a lot to learn to survive in this different world of female talk where the answers don’t come out straight away and where I have to be able to communicate multi-topic whilst multi tasking. Jackie was in her own world.

‘I thought that toning and lightening meant it was a different color. Isn’t it. Obviously I was wrong.’

Then she handed me two magazines and went off to see what happened to the coffees.

Julie was giggling because she said my face was a picture. I looked at her. ‘ I think I’m in a foreign land.’

She had opened a back issue of Cosmopolitan magazine for me and the other was Elle that showed the same style on a different model.

Julie looked and said she agreed that this was a style that would suit me.

Jackie was back. ‘What coffee did you want? Cappuccino or Latte or just black?

‘ I like Americano please.’

‘Sorry we only have these three options.’

‘OK I’ll have black please but Americano is black. Oh and what about a Cappuccino for my sister. Do you have milk? Is it instant coffee or filtered? How about de-café?.’

‘We aren’t Starbucks you know and I’m the stylist not the head brewer. OK black it is with milk.. Have you found a style you like. How about the one I selected’

‘ Yes this one here looks great. It’s called a Double Mocha Twist.’

‘Ha Ha what a co-incidence. We can do you a double Mocha twist with a side order of Americano with skinny fat milk and throw in a biscuit. How about that?’

So that was it we’d made a decision without even scanning the magazines and despite me not understanding how to speak in Salon language.

Now Jackie was exited and she picked up the magazine proud of her choice.

“I did this for another young customer about 2 weeks ago but afterwards but her mum was quite upset because it was the first time her daughter had short hair. I thought it really suited her but after getting into trouble I suppose I have to ask you. Are you sure?’

I didn’t have much choice since my hair wasn’t long enough for most styles. 'Yes I’m sure. I’m positive and I’ll follow your advice. '

‘Well Chrissie I know I can do this style on you because you’ve got the length at the back and I think your face is the right shape, just like the model. But she’s very elegant don’t you think’

‘Thanks.’ I didn’t know whether to take it as a complement or a slight insult. ‘Will it take you long do you think?’

‘Maybe you can carry this style. What do you think Kim’

They screwed their noses and shook their heads a bit and then they both agreed it was the right style for me.

‘You can’t rush these things Chrissy. Unless you want the boy cut again. First we have to get your hair into good condition. We will treat your hair and then wash it. I want to put in some highlights and darken it a bit at the top, It will be more of a creamy caramel color than a mocha really. You do realize I’ll be cropping it at the ends and it won’t be even. Very chic and you’ll turn all the heads.’

‘Oh I’m not sure then. I don’t like to be too conspicuous’

She ignored me again and I wondered if my voice was working so I coughed. ‘Hello, hello.’ Yes it was working fine.

‘Ok Chrissy, let’s get started.’

‘But really how long will it take because we have a few things to do before dinner tonight?’

‘Look my love, he’ll wait don’t you worry You’ll have his tongue hanging out after he’s seen you. He won’t want any dinner. But he’d better not spoil my handy work. Don’t worry Rome wasn’t built in one day you know. We are artists in this salon.’

‘But we have dinner booked tonight and it’s a very important meeting.’

‘Do you want to see him with your boy-cut then or shall I start the Mocha?’

Julie was sniggering. ‘We have enough time so get on with it. ‘We can leave our manicures and pedicures until tomorrow.

I drew a long breath. ‘OK please go for the Double Mocha Twist with the caramel topping and cream streaks but keep the same color as you suggest.’

I crossed my fingers on both hands and my legs and shook my head from side to side.
Kim said ‘take no notice she knows what she’s doing and she I sometimes in another world. She’s just trying to wind you up a bit’

In the meantime Julie had looked at several styles and since she was experienced in salons and pampering talk she’d selected a style that was similar to the one she had already but with a bit more body and she wanted to try to keep the shape.

I liked her existing style and she kept it in good condition. She said it was easy to manage and that was her first priority these days because of all the running around she had to do after me.

I blushed but she was teasing.

Magically through all this the coffees appeared. So we just had time for the first sips before we were wrapped in towels and capes ready for washing.

Julie said not to worry since she’d never actually finished a cup of coffee in a hair salon yet.

‘But I didn’t even start mine and I’m gasping.’

I think I connected with Kim because she passed me my cup and protected me whilst I managed two or three sips.

‘Thanks, now I know how my boss feels each morning. It’s nice coffee.’

‘Good but it is included in the bill so I do think you should have a taste at least before we lose you under the shampoo.

What a nice way to spend a Friday afternoon. I wondered what was happening at work and if I should call Kate to see if she needed me for anything. I was searching for my mobile in my handbag but that was as far as I got.

Julie looked across and as we disappeared from each other’s view I just thought how nice it was to spend this time together and to experience this other life.

These girls were really funny and it was like another world far better than life as a boy.

Julie reached out and squeezed my hand. ‘Let’s go for it Sis. We’ll knock ‘em dead.’
‘OK wake me when it’s all over please.’

‘No chance you have to savor every moment.’

So began two hours of hair pampering and non-stop entertainment that I’d never dreamed existed. It was so wonderful and to our surprise the manicurists arrived part way through and had arranged this with the salon.

They soaked our fingers and toes so the nails were in condition to carry out the treatment. I don’t suppose we looked very elegant and I was glad that there was nobody around that knew us.

I was relieved that my finger nails were in reasonable condition and I’d managed to grow them a little bit. I wasn’t sure about the toes and they were polite enough not to comment because it was probably obvious I’d never had them done before.

My finger nails did feel quite long but to the girls they were short so they asked if I wanted some extensions. I chickened out just in case I couldn’t go through with all this and had to decline the job that Kate offered me.

I chose a deep pink color of nail polish that Julie thought would look OK with the pale green dress I’d brought. ‘But I thought that pink and green should never be seen’

‘Come on Sis life has moved on a lot since the old days so they will suit your coloring especially after your spray tan. You won’t be white and pasty like now. You’ll look like you just came off the beach’

So the same color was selected for my toes even though I’d be wearing shoes and not sandals. I just wanted painted toes since I’d not had time to do them or even considered it. My feet looked really slim and feminine.

Eventually we were finished. Jackie and Kim had worked miracles with our hair. We were both delighted and Julie insisted they took a photograph of us because she said this was a big occasion that we should remember forever.

We were so pleased that we gave a big tip. I had slightly shorter hair but it was so modern and I felt very feminine.

‘Now then sis you will just have to accept the job now come Monday.’

I spun around and I did feel good. I wanted to see mum and dad to show them.

‘But can we have a spray tan now?’

‘Jackie interrupted ‘No chance it will spoil my hard work. Anyway you need 4 hours to completely dry and avoid damage to your clothes. You’d be better to do it tomorrow. We don’t want you slipping out of his hands tonight anyway do we?’

Julie looked across and said ‘Am I missing something. Who is the date you’ve brought along?’

We laughed and then agreed we would change the appointments to tomorrow.

‘Anyway we have to clean and prepare our skin and since we have some spare time now we can have another girly treat.’

‘What’s that?’

‘Just wait and see.’

‘Have we time to do the spray tan tomorrow?’

‘Yes we can leave mum and dad to themselves for as long as possible. Where are they? I’ll just send mum a text to let her know we are done. Sis you look great.’

‘Thanks sis so do you. But I hope dad thinks I look OK. I’m still not sure that he’s comfortable about me living and working like this. Hadn’t we better be sure he has arrived’

Julie just said ‘ I’m sure he’ll be here. He’s waited long enough for this chance.’

We sent a text to mum and sure enough she confirmed he had arrived and they’d met as planned. She was OK and they were walking around the grounds.

She sent a second message just saying. Feeling much better now so dinner is booked for 8pm and meeting at 7-30pm in the bar.

‘See that leaves us free for your next experience of this alternative life.’

‘Good what is it?’

‘I think we have time for the other bit of preparation for the spray tan.’

‘What’s that?’

‘Nothing much just a small tidy up.... How about a bikini wax?’

To be continued …………..