CHEATING NEVER MADE ME LOOK SO GOOD

I have begun a long term affair. Really, it started as a fling – a one time indiscretion – but it was so good that I will be back. Yes, I committed the ultimate adultery and cheated on my hairdresser.

But really, affairs never happen in a vacuum, right? Obviously Dennis’ high prices and lack of availability is the culprit. Although wouldn’t a loyal client overlook a few times when there were no appointments to be had?

When I first moved to NYC, I needed someone to cut and highlight my hair and tried a few places, but wasn’t really happy with the outcome at any of them. The thing is, my hair turns a grey-ish ash really easily when being colored and most folks don’t realize that in advance. Plus, I am a hair retard. I don’t really know how to do anything with it other than blow dry or ponytail, so my styles, which often look fabulous in the salon, look like a disaster the next day. So, I decided to take extreme measures. I would ask strangers on the street who had pretty hair where it was cut. Imagine my surprise when the first three people I asked (all unknown to each other) told me “Dennis cuts my hair and Shari highlights it.” Wow. With that endorsement, I made my first appointment five years ago and never looked back. They even taught me how to wear my hair curly so I would have an option besides blow dry or ponytail. Dutifully, I went back every 8 weeks or so.

When it was time for my wedding (almost exactly six months ago!) I made sure my appointments were booked. My hair was seriously stunning that day. (No joke, I was at a wedding last weekend where the bride told me she took a picture of my hair to her hairdresser and told him to copy it – Dennis and Shari are hair geniuses). But the downhill slide was subtle. Fist, Shari stopped working weekends so I had to see Ezzie for highlights (who, in fairness, was trained my Shari and is almost as good). But then disaster struck. My last appointment with Ezzie was cancelled that morning because of a family emergency on her part. While I respect that, no one ever called me back to reschedule. So, when I called this week to see if she was free this Saturday (she is), I tried to make a haircut appointment as well. No luck. Not just Dennis, but not a single stylist could cut my hair. Nor could anyone do it next weekend.

In desperate need of a haircut – it had been like 4 months – I called Gia. Gia has been cutting my sister’s hair for years and although she does a good job on Sister, we have very different style and I was nervous. Gia was fabulous. I could get an appointment the next day and she was $30 cheaper than Dennis. Plus, I was late and she was totally cool with it. So, tomorrow I have my appointment for color with Ezzie, but what I can’t tell her is that in 6 weeks, I am going to try Gia for color as well. She will even make 7pm appointments and work until 11pm, if necessary.

Maybe it’s more than a simple affair. Maybe, at least for now and depending on how she does my color, it’s not a mere affair but the real thing.