THE daily chronicle SHOW

i am taking a brief break from my weekly saturday stakeout to bring to you some vented emotions and whines from a disturbed client in a high-end salon.

the client : me.

i am using the term “disturbed” because i have never paid this much money just to make me look a little better. and this does not even include total body waxing or even a little shoulder massage. i was in a rut today, hopelessly trying to avoid attending a valentine’s opening party for a new antique shop - which then led me to have my hair done. a total mess. my hair, that is. i have been tying it on a ponytail for the last few months as a result of my dedicated vietnamese girl’s pregnancy wherein she’s due anytime now. so, for the time being, i have flat-ironed my hair to death, i have tied it with a band for an easy ponytail and recently, my husband pointed out the dryness and copper-ish look of my hair ends.

that led me to drop by in a local aveda salon hoping that it’ll be close on sundays but the blinding track lights high above the ceiling can illuminate the nearby grocery store. the place was literally about 3 minutes from our house and sits next to our favorite local coffeeshop, the grind.

i just wanted to have my roots touched up with the dark brown tint i have. that was the plan until the hostess took one look at me - then she rattled off the services i needed and managed to lead me to the back of the salon which have a sea of people in black outfits. as i submitted myself to their arms, i ended up having highlights and roots touch-up done with a new haircut (which i admit is great!) and a powerful blow-dry to complete the transformation.

the total time i spent in that nature-smelling salon was 5 hours. and i did not have lunch! ben was ready to threaten the whole salon staff, if they don’t let me go! that’s how long it took to rejuvenate my obviously ill locks. the finish product : a bouncy, layered look with dark blonde highlights!

but the road leading out the salon was very painful. i have to shelve out $ 300.00 for all the services - includes color, highlights, highlights relaxer, cut, blow-dry, products (i’m loyal to kerastase!) and tip. i have never paid that much in my life for some hair pampering that would probably last over a week. ok, maybe a month.

my only consolation - i love it. and ben loves it! so maybe it’s worth it after all.

have you previously paid more for a haircut/color? please share. make me feel a little better.