Just a Trim

      Haircuts. They're never quite what you expect. Either you've been getting the same, boring cut for over a decade (in that case, boo you) or you like to change it up from time to time. As a member of the latter group, say that hair cutting in general is risky business. First and foremost, one has to find the right salon. Choosing a hair salon can be tricky, and it's usually a matter of personal preference, but I highly recommend one that is not located inside your local Wal-mart. One thing I've learned is that nothing good comes out of a haircut that costs $5.99. Next, find a hairdresser whom you trust. The right hairdresser for you will have a sixth sense about your desired length and the limited extent of your styling abilities. She will magically know that four inches off means a trim. These are a rare breed so if you find one, make sure to hold on tight. Good, now you have a 50% chance of being satisfied with your haircut.
     Sure you may walk out of there feeling great, until you realize that you can never make it look the way your hairdresser made it, because she obviously sold her soul to be able to work magic like that. Soon you're left with a limp and frizzy mess, praying for the day that your hair grows out so you can swing your lovely tresses in everyone's face. And after months of staring wistfully at images of long-haired goddesses, your hair finally inches to desired length. And after a week of peaceful hair bliss, you find the devilish split-ends. That is only the beginning of the problems. Showers end up taking over 45 minutes and you've got nothing to show for it except sore arms. Your hair starts pooling in your lap, getting caught in your backpack, or flying into your food. It would take too long to curl it or straighten it or do anything at all for that matter. At this point, you are completely fed up by your endless, damaged hair and you decide to go rogue. Just a trim, you think, just to change it up a bit. And you walk into the salon again, trying to describe to your hairdresser exactly what combination of new hair trends you think will look good based on blurry images found in obscure corners of the internet. The cycle repeats itself.
     Really, nothing can satisfy a woman's quench for perfect hair. The good hair days always die young, as they say. It could be the fault of hair salons everywhere, who capitalize on women's need to beautify their hair.But the quest for perfect hair is futile in itself, for no woman wants the hair she was given. Cursed with silky, straight, ebony locks, a girl wishes that her hair would hold the serpentine curls her friend has. The same friend, with spiraling golden tresses, yearns for the effortless brown waves her sister was blessed with. And the list goes on and on. The endless supply of chemical products promising to increase shine, or adjust hair color, or tame frizz, just cater to the growing number of girls who think that new spray will fix their self image issues. As Sedaris pointed out, we always want what we can't have, or in some cases, what we used to have. Maybe it would be better if we were all just bald.

Disclaimer: This is not about me: I would say my hair is too short, but I like to live my life without regrets.