The State of My Hair... is Strong!

My hair was in a very good place today. I recently got it colored after putting myself on SalonApprentice.com To my surprise, I quickly had someone reach out to me who worked at a frighteningly fancy salon. Of course I was ecstatic to take the appointment. Fancy hair at rock bottom prices is probably my favorite bargain-y thing about NYC.

Since I was seeing a stranger-girl,  I made this diagram of times where I liked my hair and styles I was into. A mood board for hair! 


She just gave me partial highlights and a couple low-lights and a gloss. I can't tell you how much I paid because it was a scandal of cheapness, like, OMG! so cheap and wonderful.

While I got this hair worked on, I read the original Girl Scout handbook from 1913 and was delighted at how feminist it was. And it constantly reminded me of The Martha Stewart Homekeeping Handbook, as in, open your windows and be healthy and don't be excessive. Do good deeds. You can be anything you want to be, but have some sense.

Then after my fancy hair appointment of course, I had to ride my freakin' bicycle in the rain. Right after I figured out how to get out of Bergdorf Goodman after-hours. Yes, I was a little scared. - About the Bergdorf part.

Riding in the rain in this pink jacket is the story of my life lately.

I wear a helmet to protect my fancy hair color.

My Brand New, Red, Short-but-Thick Hair.

Here's what happened. I started out the day in a headband-


Gwynne did my cut and color today. I rarely get them both in the same day because of cost, but it's been a season and a half since I've been to the salon for either. I've written a review on Yelp about how yes, this salon is expensive, but if you plan accordingly, you can have a slice of the fancy salon pie.

Gwynne saw my hair pulled back in the headband and decided on the spot that I needed to wear my hair back. We discussed baby bangs, but she reminded me that she's been wishing I would let the top be thick and grow long for like 3 years. I was feeling completely behind her ideas on whatever - so I said "go with it."

The color discussion brought this idea - I like dark hair, but I feel like if my hair is too dark, I over-compensate with tons of dark make-up, so my hair color can't be darker than my eyes' lightness. She completely understood.

I wore it home like this - up and back.

But it's fun like this too!


It's kind of great that I got this new color, because I'm being more conscious of makeup lately and I have 2 fun makeup events this week. This bright red lipstick is my new best friend MAC Lady Danger. I swear 10 people at the salon asked me what this color is. Red-Orange is the future.

I'm not going to wash my hair for at least five days. I got an all-over color, highlights, a conditioning treatment with scalp massage, then a glaze. Five days is fine.

I got a new pot of Kerastase Conditioner. It's just so great. The shampoo came from Gwynne's recommendation. She knows I am on board to preserve my color the best I can.


This was after the all-over color and before I put on my makeup and got the highlights.

I'm Rachel Maddow again!

Today was one of those I really love my New York City life days. Like, savoring these moments because one day I'll have a kid and won't be able to put myself first and be outrageously self-indulgent at the fancy salon. Maybe I'll maintain a fancy salon life, but probably not like this from A to Z - getting dressed, buying snacks at the deli, taking a cab, etc. In the cab downtown to the appointment and I was thinking about my tremendously sad & depressed childhood in Arkansas. I'm here and in my current life because I've made good choices. One of those choices was getting together with Matt, who became my husband, who is my awesome partner in life- who is why we are able to live here. Together we work our respective jobs, and I can tear it up like this. My Mom would be so impressed and proud.

Free Haircut!

My hair was feeling extra thick and conservative and since I'm spending so much time on Craigslist (and other job sites of course) looking for jobs, I like to look into other adventures too. I wrote someone who needed short-hair hair-cut models. The salon turned out to be really swanky and it turned out to be in the neighborhood.

The owner is one of those "Celebrity Stylists" and he was actually there. I read his press book in the waiting area and was surprised that someone who works there is on the Michelle Obama hair team and the owner himself does Renee Z. When I met my lady she had to show me to the owner so that he could see the "Before." After my personal dealing with "celebrity stylists" he was typical. No one (fancy, who I've met and is famous and owns their business) is as friendly as Eva S.

So the haircut was nice. Nice space, tons of cute people working there. If I need free haircuts long-term, I know where to go. I overheard that "Apprentice highlights" are $40. Woo hoo! If you're not familiar with the "Apprentice" system, people who are licensed in NYC have to "Apprentice" for 2 whole years before they graduate to working on the floor by themselves and generating their own clientele. I guess it's more serious in upscale salons. I appreciate the charity!

This is just an outfit pic. The flannel shirt is not your typical lesbian flannel- It is Vintage Diane Von Furstenberg that I purchased in Malvern, Arkansas. Hello.

I did a little photo shoot and put some things on eBay yesterday.
I was professional and invested $25 in a roll of seamless paper to shoot my items against a nice background: