And while we are on the subject of hair salons

Italy vacation countdown: T minus 9 days.

Note: Sidebar that is usually located on the right is at the bottom of the page, due to the size of the photos...in case you are looking for it....

I am well past the fear and trepidation of having a perfect stranger who works at a hair salon that I literally walked into off the street, who can’t speak my language, begin to color, highlight, and cut my hair. Yes, taking pictures into the salon help, but that is not a reasonable solution to the inevitable questions that are posed to me by the stylist.

I went through this in Korea, Taiwan, and now, Germany. Strangely, I have made my peace with the fear and anxiety that descends upon me each time I enter the salon. Simply making the appointment is taxing as the receptionist and I use a calendar and sign language to hone in on what I am actually requesting: a hair appointment. Telephoning the salon for an appointment is out of the question.

As I sit in the chair, inwardly scrutinizing whether this stylist “knows what he or she is doing”, I usually come full circle from anxiety to quiet resolution. I always tell myself: worst case scenario, I can cut my hair short….

So, next time you are sitting in the stylist chair, think of me.