Vitalandfresh
I am a middle-aged man growing his hair for no particular reason. I go to my wife, Christine’s hairdresser every 2 months to keep it looking neatish, I suppose I can call her, Paula, my hairdresser now. It’s around 6 to 8 inches long now, but it’s thin and doesn’t look great, no-one says so. I am persevering because I like the feel of it and the idea of having a non-conforming, slightly femme hairstyle.
At one of the hair appointments Paula asked: ‘Are you still up for the body wave?’
(I was up for the body wave in more ways than one, that’s another reason to keep growing my hair), I replied: ‘Sure if it will help.’
‘The curls will certainly lift your hair a bit.’
Me: ‘Well I don’t really want it curly, just more volume. Christine doesn’t seem to like the idea of curls anymore. I thought she liked it when I had it permed all those years ago.’
‘Actually, do you have photos of your previous perms? It would help me gauge how tight it might go.’
‘I’ll look through and copy them to my phone.’
I trawl through our old photos looking for the moment I was suddenly curly. It was before smart phones so there were a lot fewer photos, and they were just when our children were born so all the photos show me bending or carrying a tiny (and adorable of course) child. It turns out I had permed hair for nearly 3 years. I crop and copy a selection of the photos that show my hair clearly over to my phone. Looking through the photos makes you think of those times. There was so much happening then. Christine had moved in with me, we didn’t marry, even having children. We wanted to do things our way. I remember thinking why does everyone have to wear blue jeans, I never worn them since. Maybe the perms were part of that.
The whole process of arranging the appointment, having it done, living with it, washing and drying it, visiting parents and friends, even going to work and enduring the ribbing sometimes, it was all exciting. Caressing my hair, feeling the texture, having Christine caress it. Every time you lean your head on something you feel the curls. I would get it redone every 4 months, if the previous perm went well then I would try to go back to the same stylist, phoning to ask the price and availability. If not I would phone round other salons. I would usually arrange it for early Saturday morning, I’d be the first customer, turning up I’d be relived if the stylist was a woman, a bit embarrassed the one time he was male. They would cut off most of the previous perm which left the length short, 2 or 3 inches, which then meant the perm was quite tight. Somehow the condition was good enough never to look fried and the curls were usually well defined and complete, how I liked it. The stylists were often intrigued that I wanted curly hair and we would talk about it, they picked up that it was a turn-on and would tease me (verbally only!), I once had 2 women unrolling my perm rods and pampering me whilst commenting on how I must be enjoying it, I was. I was even offered a roller set to finish and stupidly I was too shy to say yes. I found permed hair easier than normal to look after. My hair is a bit greasy and the perms dried it out. I used conditioner, used a wide-tooth comb and it was wash and wear, it dried as I walked to work. The curls stayed full and separate.
I’m not sure why I stopped, I suppose we were busy and I let it lapse. I regret now not growing it a bit to try other styles. I can’t do it so well now, my hair is too thin. And Christine seems to not like the idea so much.
The next hair trimming appointment arrives and I am back in Paula’s salon chair. I look down at my shiny nails. My nails chip and crack and I have realised that could be helped by applying nail-hardener, which has the added advantage of being a good excuse to have varnished (clear though) nails. I thought it would be noticed and I would be forever saying it’s cos of my rubbish nails but it has barely happened.
Paula asks again: ‘Are you still considering a body perm?’
Me: ‘If you think it will help (while hoping she still does), I brought the photos of previous perms.’ I show her my phone and she scrolls through.
‘So do you want it this curly?’
‘I don’t really want it curly, just more volume.’
‘Sorry, that’s right.’
Me: ‘If I like the wave we can redo it the time after a bit tighter.’
‘Yeah, sure, so we can do it next time.’
‘Great.’
I get home and say to Christine: ‘I’m booked in for a body perm in 2 months’
‘I’m not sure curls will look good…’
‘It shouldn’t be curly, just more volume…’
Of course I’d love to have it curly but I might have to do that more gradually.
Now I’m doing a daily countdown to the appointment.
