Adventures in hair

Who would think that a simple haircut would be another reason to panic? It just so happens that this was almost as nerve-wracking as going to the gynecologist.  Of course, the consequences of something being lost in translation are much greater at a doctor's appointment, but those mistakes could be much more visible at the hair salon.  In the grand scheme of things, a bad haircut isn't the biggest deal in the world, and time would erase the damage (just ask Erik, after some of the cuts I've given him).  However, at 11 weeks post-baby, my hair is the only thing I have going for me in the looks department. I didn't want to screw up. I am still a little scarred by the one haircut I got in Munich, which was the worst I've had since my sophmore year of college.  I asked for layers, and I got exactly two layers: a lower one and an upper one. 

After pestering Erik for new vocabulary words such as "even", "layered", etc. . . he gently suggested that I bring the dictionary with me.  Awesome, then they'll give me the nerd foreigner cut. I brought it anyway, and set out to scope out the nearest salon, without the benefit of Yelp or a friend's recommendation to guide me.  I walked into the place I had been eyeing and was happy to see that the clientele did not consist of old women getting their weekly set. That was a plus. However, as I took my seat, I looked around and realized that the stylists' hair made me nervous.  One was bleached-blond, Cyndi Lauper-punk, and the other three all had variations of side ponytails and something mullet-esque.  So, I sat there and sweated while waiting my turn, looking up words frantically so I wouldn't end up looking like them and praying that I wouldn't end up with Cyndi Lauper.

I didn't.  It was fine.  I think I said "Not too dramatic" enough times that she got the point.  So, I survived another foray into unknown territory.  Once again, it came at a welcome time.  I needed a little boost after making a fool out of myself at the bakery this morning. (The bakery? Seriously Julie? If you have conquered one thing in this language, it's bakery vocabulary. What were you thinking?)