After retiring from the military, my wife, Helen, suggested that I lose my military look and get my hair styled by her hairstylist, Annie. I was not high on this idea and the thought of going to a salon sent me into shivers. She assured me that Annie did lots of guy’s hair. I knew Annie since my wife had been going to her for years. Actually, I had even been to the salon when Annie trained me to color my Helen’s roots for one of our summer trips. Apparently, my wife and Annie had already talked about my hair. Annie told her that my hair was way too good to be cut in that basic military way and she could do some interesting things with it.
So, I started going to Annie for my haircuts. Helen made the appointments and coordinated with Annie. I just showed up. At first, I was a little embarrassed about going to a salon – just not a “manly” thing to be doing. Usually, I was the only guy there; but, everyone was very friendly and treated me nicely without making a fuss. I have to admit that after the first visit, I became comfortable with my salon visits. Annie and I were really getting to know each other. When your hair is military short, there isn’t much a stylist can do except wait until it grows longer.
After going to Annie for about nine months, my hair was actually getting very long. Annie had worked it to all one length and called the style a straight bob. She taught me all kinds of things in caring for my hair on a daily basis – shampooing, conditioning and blowing dry. I even used the brush to make a slight under-curl at the ends. Helen was happy about my new look and since it was a gradual change, nothing much was said by my friends.
We were going on a four-month summer RV trip and my hair appointment was the day before we would leave. Annie told me that she was going to do something really different and fun to help me take care of my hair during the trip. Of course I agreed assuming everything had been coordinated with my wife as usual.
I will admit, I wasn’t paying attention to what Annie was doing and she had the chair turned so I couldn’t watch her activity through the mirrors. It did seem like she was doing something more than the usual combing and cutting but as my hair got longer this was common.
Then, as Annie worked, I recognized a very strong odor. From years before when my mother and sister permed their hair at our home, I remembered the air was filled with that same odor.
I felt a slight panic and reacted by reaching up and touched my hair. To my horror, I realized that Annie already had completely covered my head in perm rods! I’d been going to a salon for months, allowing my hair to get long, and having my hair done; but, a perm? This was a real girly thing. I asked Annie if my wife knew about this and she answer was a giggle. Later, I would discover that Annie was really stretching the truth here.
What different feelings and thoughts I had during the next hour. Annie turned me so I could see what was happening in the mirrors. With all of the capes and towels and my hair in perm rods, I didn’t look like a guy at all – I looked very much like many of the other women there in the salon. Within an hour, my perm was complete. Annie took the rods out and proceeded to show me how I should fix my hair in the mornings after shampooing. She said it was a unisex look.
I thought I was done but Annie said this was now the fun part she had mentioned earlier. She wanted to try some different things with my hair. She assured me that whatever she did could be immediately returned to my curly unisex style with shampooing. Again, I agreed without questioning as I had no idea what she had in mind and still thinking everything was approved by my wife.