At the haircutting appointment, I sat across from an elderly lady who was getting her hair set.
She sat in the chair, her eyes closed most of the time, as the young, hip hairdresser dried and curled and teased her snow white hair. The hairdresser appeared to merely tolerate this boring assignment. After all, there would be no razor cut, no highlights, no avant-garde techniques with this client. Just a simple, old-fashioned set.
I couldn't help but think that my generation will probably never be the weekly hair set type. I think that mentality somehow fits this current generation of the elderly, and will probably not carry on to the next. I can't imagine my mother starting the habit of a weekly hair set.
Now, it may be just because the "set" hairstyles are not en vogue right now. There aren't a lot of short, rollered, teased styles at the forefront of todays coiffures.
But as I watched that woman relax and get her hair taken care of for the next week, I couldn't help but be a little jealous. She looked so calm. So peaceful. So content.
Was her hairstyle chic and current? Nope. But you can't beat the ease of it. A little combing in the morning and a hair net at night and she's set for a week. A week, folks. That's better than the best wash and wear haircut you've ever gotten.
It's been a long time since I've seen an old-fashioned hair setting. I used to see them all the time at the beauty college in Astoria where I got all my perms in the 80's. I imagine they are becoming few and far between, as this woman and her contemporaries die off.
I think they were onto something. A weekly wash and set - being pampered and cared for and beautified... not a bad idea.
Me? I just got a trim.
She sat in the chair, her eyes closed most of the time, as the young, hip hairdresser dried and curled and teased her snow white hair. The hairdresser appeared to merely tolerate this boring assignment. After all, there would be no razor cut, no highlights, no avant-garde techniques with this client. Just a simple, old-fashioned set.
I couldn't help but think that my generation will probably never be the weekly hair set type. I think that mentality somehow fits this current generation of the elderly, and will probably not carry on to the next. I can't imagine my mother starting the habit of a weekly hair set.
Now, it may be just because the "set" hairstyles are not en vogue right now. There aren't a lot of short, rollered, teased styles at the forefront of todays coiffures.
But as I watched that woman relax and get her hair taken care of for the next week, I couldn't help but be a little jealous. She looked so calm. So peaceful. So content.
Was her hairstyle chic and current? Nope. But you can't beat the ease of it. A little combing in the morning and a hair net at night and she's set for a week. A week, folks. That's better than the best wash and wear haircut you've ever gotten.
It's been a long time since I've seen an old-fashioned hair setting. I used to see them all the time at the beauty college in Astoria where I got all my perms in the 80's. I imagine they are becoming few and far between, as this woman and her contemporaries die off.
I think they were onto something. A weekly wash and set - being pampered and cared for and beautified... not a bad idea.
Me? I just got a trim.
I am *all* about only doing my hair once a week! Sign me up!!!! My grandma gets her hair done once a week at the Waterford. :-) Yes, I think this is a thing of the past. Alas, I long for the simpler times!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the memories. I grew up in a "beauty parlor" as my mother was the owner of her own shop. All the gals who worked for her were called Operators. What a hoot! But, I too remember those ladies sitting and relaxing, drifting off. What a great memory. All the while, I am sure I was messing up all the perm rollers and driving them all crazy. I remember my mother and all her "operators" dyed their bee hive bufont hair a very light baby pink for the Strawberry festival in Lebanon Oregon. I thought my mom was so cool!
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking about letting my hair go gray and getting wool from all over the world woven into my dreadlocks....seriously. Dreads last for months and they make a statement. Alas I am still too vain, and like burgundy and black and sleek and young...but I will consider it in my 40's. How's that for weird? I was inspired by someone in the Orkney Islands in her 40's with 5 children and Anne Lamont. Thanks for your great storytelling.
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