I felt quite glamorous when I left the hair dressers with my new Marcel waves looking a bit like a 1920’s film star, and when we got back to aunts she sorted me out a beautiful silky cream dress with a dropped waist that really looked the part, she also gave me some real silk white stockings and these felt really special as I pulled them on and attached them to my suspenders. I really felt the part.
John was at the church seeing to the last minute preparations he hasn’t seen my new look yet but I’ve got his stare set of car keys and I’m off now to the station to pick up my mum whose train should be arriving shortly, I haven’t seen her since we went up to London for the wedding so I’m really looking forward to this.
I arrive at the station and park nearby the walk through to the platform the train has just left I look round but cannot see my mum I hope she hasn’t missed the train then a ladies voice behind me makes me jump.
“Looking for me” says mum with a big smile on her face.
What a surprise ever since I’ve been born mum has always had the same neat precise chin length bob, but now most of it has gone as she’s wearing a lovely short perm set very precisely giving quite a bit of height on top, the sides just covers the top quarter of her ears and she’s got a neat straight rollered fringe half way up her forehead the whole effect is very smart.
“I’m not the only one who’s spent some time in the hairdressers then, you look lovely what a refreshing change, lets see the back” I reply.
Mum turns round to give me a view of the rear the structured curls continue down to her natural hair line were they abruptly finish in a precise curl under. I don’t think Edith would have left it that low but it still looks really nice.
“Mum you look so different when did you have your hair cut”.
“I knew coming here that you and Eileen would be impeccably turned out so I thought lets not let the side down and had all my bob cut off yesterday. I’m still not quite used to it yet but it does feel very feminine even if I was shocked at how much of my hair had been cut off. Speaking of which look at you there’s hardly any of your hair left now it was very short last time I saw you but you’ve had even more cut off, I hope John approved, though I do like these lovely waves you’ve got.”
“John definitely approves in fact the shorter and tighter my hair gets the more he seems to like it”
With this we set of back to Aunts.
Leaving Aunts for the fait the three of us looked so smart Aunt with her curls freshly set by Mrs Hood, Mum with her newly cut perm and me wearing retro Marcel waves.
I coursed a bit of a stir at the fait everyone was so surprised by my new look and full of compliments, John was particularly pleased and the silk stockings really court his eye, I was so pleased that he was happy with the way I was turned out and he didn’t leave my side all afternoon.
“I’ve some news for you later” I said to John, Ill wait to tell him about my wanting to be a traditional ladies hair dresser till later when I’ve his full attention, not that he wasn’t paying attention now he seemed transfixed by my new waves.
It would have been nice if Emma could have been here to show the world another neat permed head.
After a while we bumped into Mrs Brunson who had been in the hairdressers that morning she still had Zoë with her and had been joined by her son, Zoë looked so different her trendy clothes had been replaced by a light pink flowery maternity dress with a high round collar long sleeves and finished just past the knee, as she was only just showing it buried her and her scrubbed face that really now stood out thanks to her no nonsense short clippered hair cut made her look even younger that she already was I could even tell that her neck was freshly shaven as her skin was pure white showing through the tiny stubble left at her nape and ears than had probably never seen day light before, what had been thick hair now looked thin and limp there had been that much thinned from the top the dress finished off with flat court shoes was obviously her mother in laws choice. The poor girl didn’t look at all happy and nether did her husband who must have had one big shock to find his lovely young wife transformed from trendy to frump in one morning by his mother.
Mrs Brunson has gone off so I decided to speak to her.
“Hello we met this morning in the hairdressers, I’m Claire by the way, how do you like your new cut now it’s certainly a change for you”
“oh hello, yes I remember you now I wasn’t paying much attention to people this morning I was just so upset about what they’ve done to me, this was all my mother in laws idea she’s been going on at me for months about how I needed to smarten my self up and wear more suitable clothes and in the end I gave in just to shut her up and agreed to a trim, she insisted I went to her hairdresser I never dreamed she would have my lovely hair butchered like this it looks like a old fashioned short back and sides I’m still very upset now and even feel embarrassed that I look so plain and ugly like this I don’t know how long its going to take to grow back at it all feels so thin and wispy now I wont even be able to do any thing with it, the choice is to take it all off and start again or accept that I’m going to look like a boring frump for some time to come, it’s a good job there’s no mirrors around here or I’d start sobbing all over again”
“Its certainly a shock when you are first parted from long fashionable hair that gives you a look of confidence especially when its replaced by an old fashioned simple style like yours has been, but I remember when mine was first cut and given a little time I lost the feeling you probably have now that part of you is missing and the strange feeling you now have around your neck and ears after your first encounter with the clippers and those heavy long locks have been sheared, you might not think so now but this whole experience upsetting though it now is can in the long run be the start of a whole new chapter in your life, if you have the support of people around you then you’ll soon get over this and either grow it back or you may find given time that it has been a good thing to loose all of that long trouble some hair and take up a simpler more lady like demeanour.” I replied encouragingly.
“Thanks that’s given me something to think about, the only trouble is my husband absolutely hates the way I look now, he had a real shouting match with his mum when we returned home this morning, she won through in the end as per usual that why I’m wearing this big flowery sack that she picked out for me, I’m dreading meeting my friends now I’ve been hacked at like this.”
“If your friends are really friends they’ll understand when you tell them what’s happened to you and support you through, it’ll be a test for them”
“Yes your right, I must say your hair looks lovely with those waves its very short indeed have you always had such short hair as it’s quite unusual on some one of your age but very distinctive and gives you a air of confidence different to that shown by most women who think they have to follow the latest trends”
“I was the same as you a few months back, but my hair was even longer than yours used to be and came well down my back until John asked me to change it for him, and I went from very long to very short with a tight perm and a neck shaven much more than yours has been today, I felt all most like my arm had been cut off when all my lovely long hair was removed and I was left looking a totally different person with a really severe tight head of set curls.
I felt like the whole world was looking at me but then I knew that this is what I wanted and my confidence grew with it to the point that last time I had a cut it was shockingly short and not at all what was expected of a young woman but people accept me for what I am not what they want me to be. After first having my hair cut I did regret it and wasn’t at all sure I’d done the right thing but now I wouldn’t have it any other way than a short tight perm. In fact one of my friends has recently gone from a life time of very long naturally blonde hair to a new start with a very short tight perm and dyed the blonde curls dark brown to put all of the old stereotypes she was labelled with behind her, she had a shock when it was first all cut off, but now she’s even talking about going shorter still its like cutting those long tresses away also cuts away at vanity, when you have no choice but to face every day with out the security blanket of long hair to hide behind you become a more modest but confident person. I know you may not be happy with the cut you’ve been given and being so heavily thinned out on top is certainly not going to give you any styling options but give it time and you may be happier.”
Zoë manages a little smile for the first time.
“Thank you so much for talking to me, its really helped to have the experiences of some one who’s been through some thing like this I still feel humiliated at letting those two old women butcher me and do exactly as they liked to my poor hair, I guess I’ll have to get used to it for a wile or wear a hat”
“If you want to talk any more or if I can help you in any way just give me a call” I write my phone number down and give it to Zoë.
“Thank you it would be nice to chat some times” replies Zoë and with this we part as Mrs Brunson has just come back and I don’t want to get court by her.
The rest of the afternoon was lovely it was great spending time with the people important to me.
After the fait John and I went back to his cottage, he was impatient to learn my news
“What’s the big surprise them” he asks
“Well as you can see I’ve had my hair set today, and while I was in the chair I found out that the hairdresser is looking for a trainee to relive some of the load from her as she’s quite old now, well all the applicants so far are not willing to fit into the requirement she has that they must look smart and be prepared to dress and wear their hair in a manner fitting for a very traditional ladies salon. I’d love to learn how to dress hair and as far as my style well I all ready fit in perfectly, I’m going to phone her on Monday and ask her to consider me”
“Wow so you’ll be cutting and perming hair all day, I suppose most of the clients will be more mature but you may be able to get more business from younger women when they see the example you set and how brilliant your hair looks, I might even be able to pop over and see how your getting on from time to time”
I wonder what he means by this, then think back to when my hair was being cut by Edith and how excited he was by the whole process, may be if we did get some younger women in he’d love to watch them being transformed.
“This is a traditional prim ladies hairdressers not a public exhibition for your pleaser” I tell him laughing.
John starts to laugh to “well may be I’ll just come when it you in the hot seat then”
I’ve a feeling this could be quite regularly.
When I returned later to Aunts we had a lovely end to the day, we changed into our night dresses and I put a net over my waves, I wear a hair net every night now even when I’ve let my curls dry naturally it just seems right some how.
Mum was surprised to see me netted she hadn’t bought one with her to protect her own set,
“Haven’t you a net for your hair” asked Aunt
“No being new to being permed I never thought of it, I could do with one really I suppose”
“Don’t worry mum I’ve got spares, I couldn’t be with out a hair net now. In fact I even had to wear one out in public once” mum had quite a giggle as I told her how Edith had sent me out curled and netted into the town while she worked on Emma.
I go and fetch mum a net then help her put it on we did look good all three of us with our hair rapped in black hair nets.
Mum had to go back Sunday afternoon; John and I took her to the station and promised to visit soon.
Monday Morning,
We’ve just opened the shop and Emma’s car stops out side the shop it’s quite early, I wonder what she wants, she comes in the shop.
“Hi every one we’ve just come back from Paul’s parents and there’s no milk I hope you’ve got some”
Then we both look at each other, what has happened to Emma’s hair she’s obviously had small rollers in but instead of the type of neat comb out she’d normally have it looks like the rollers have been left to them selves and she now has a head covered in small tubes.
“Have you tried setting your hair yourself Emma” I ask.
Emma looks up and pulls a face at this suggestion.
“No it’s bad isn’t it luckily I’ll be washing it out shortly, when we arrived at Paul’s parents I gave them quite a surprise, Paul’s mum’s always been distant to me and not very approving but she was really pleased to see all my hair gone. She has always had short curly hair herself although I think hers is naturally curly not permed as the curl is quite random not defined like a good tight perm, but she always sets it her self with her loose curl this isn’t to bad but she insisted on setting mine and as I’ve such a tight curl her usual method didn’t really work. When she first saw me on Friday night I got my warmest welcome ever she was really taken aback and wanted to know what had produced such a change not just length and colour but my twin set cardigan pleated skirt flat shoe’s and no make up. I just told her it was time I grew up and with that answer her arms went round me and she beamed with smiles. Paul went out early next morning and she walked in on me just as I was dressing she was even more surprised to see me in a big pair of full knickers long firm bra and tan stockings and suspenders, she wanted me to help her get things ready for the meal we were having that night, she’d already put her hair in rollers and covered them with a net. It was then she decided she was going to do the same for me, I was sent to the bathroom to wash my hair then she sat me down at her dressing table and rolled me in her spiky little rollers, she loved it all. I spent the rest of the day in netted rollers wearing one of her aprons, I was still in rollers when people started to arrive that’s when she gave me this comb out and loads of lacquer all over She was delighted with the result but I’m not, she treated me like a trophy to be shown off. She was quite direct with Paul’s brothers wife and made her quite uncomfortable with her comments that’s it’s time she was rid of her silly girlish hair style and matured a little. She has lovely soft naturally curly strikingly red long hair that I think she has no intention of cutting.
My next problem is that in two weeks she’s coming here as were going to one of Paul’s family for a party and I think she intends to set my hair for this, how do I get out of this one”
Emma hasn’t noticed my 20’s waves as their still netted to protect them. I think about this for a moment then a plan develops, “Remember how you said you wished now that Edith had cut your hair even shorter, well if you went back and had it cut really short Paul’s mum wouldn’t be able to get a normal roller in it and so you’d escape that part but you would have to have very short hair” I suggest.
I must confess my own motives in this watching Zoë being subjected to a major hair cut by a domineering older women had been exciting to say the least and the thought of seeing Emma subjected to a real harsh cut was a opportunity I wouldn’t want to miss.
“That could certainly solve the problem, I’ve given shorter hair a lot of thought since we last spoke on the subject and even Paul’s come round to accept that his wife is not the young girl with flowing tresses any more but a sensibly dressed short haired lady, so going shorter still should be just the thing”
“In fact we could have a bit of fun with Edith, you know how she likes to boss about well lets wind her up a bit, if your up for it the out come will be fun as long as you know she’s really going to go to town on you” I say.
“Well a very short cut is what I want so lets give it a try” comes Emma’s response.
We go out the hall way and find Edith’s number,
“Leave the talking to me” I tell Emma
Edith answers the phone after a few rings
“Hello Mrs M I would like an appointment for a cut as soon as possible, I recently had my hair cut short and permed by you but it wasn’t really cut short enough and so I need another good cut after no time at all this time we need to make sure plenty is taken off all over” I say all this in a brisk assertive voice.
“Do you indeed, well I’m quite sure we can make sure you leave this time with more than enough removed, be here tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock sharp” comes Edith’s sharp reply, as if to say how dare you question how much hair I’ve cut off.
Emma’s heard all this and we have a giggle,
“I’ll come with you if you want for some moral support, she certainly sounded suitably primed I just hope you know what you’re letting you’re self in for.
After all this there’s not much time to tell Emma my news but she’s very encouraging and thinks it will be great to know her own personal hair dresser.
Later that morning
I’ve just given Mrs Hood a phone and expressed my interest in becoming her assistant, she seemed pleased and I’m to go in and see her late this afternoon this is handy because I was already going into town this afternoon with John, I’ve been getting a few headaches and feel I need my eye’s tested I booked a appointment at one of the express one hour shops last week so I can sort my eye’s out then go and see Mrs Hood. I’m just getting changed now and decide that a smart suit is in order, I’ve a lovely dark grey one with a pleated skirt that’s just below my knee, I’d better look my best so a nice white all in one girdle and some tan stockings that are just a little thicker than my usual ones and a plain blouse with a small broach at the collar sets it off primly but nice. My waves have flattened slightly but my hair still looks very presentable I thought about washing it but decided to stay with the formal set rather than the small more casual curls that drop in with no effort at all, I’ve a feeling that if I work for Mrs Hood then the formal set look will be a requirement in the salon.
I could do with a trim around my ears as its grown back so that the top is all most covered and my fringe is creeping back down my forehead I thought about getting it cut back close and hard when Emma’s goes to Edith’s but I’ll hang back if I get the job then I’m sure Mrs Hood will want to stamp her ideas on my hair style.
I’ve just finished my eye examination and the optician has told me that I need some glasses; this is a surprise as I always thought I had good vision but they know best.
I’m looking through the racks of glasses and have selected a pair of glasses there quite ordinary metal frames and should be ok for every day. This shop is doing a offer of two pairs for the price of one so I need to select a second. John’s gone off to the other side of the shop and is gesturing for me to join him.
“I’ve found these they would look brilliant with you’re hair style just try them on”
John’s stood in front of a rack of glasses that the more mature ladies would normally go for, he hand me a pair of thick frames there no actually horn rimmed but not far off with a sharp oval lens.
“No there not for me” I reply
“Just try them on for me”
I put them on; they make me look much sterner a bit like one of my old teachers who was very strict.
“Just imagine when your hairdressing, there’s a young woman with long flowing hair capped in front of you, she’s about to lose all that lovely hair and standing over her is you with you’re very short impeccably set hair and looking at her through your no-nonsense glasses, she wouldn’t dare not let you do what ever you wanted to her” John whispers mischievously in my ear. The idea’s really making me think and thinking back to how I felt watching Emma’s pony being sheared off, and more recently Zoë sitting submissively and quietly sobbing as her trademark trendy hair was brutally removed and this is really turning me on.
“Yes I’ll have these ones”
I go to the counter and order the two pairs the young assistant seems surprised at my choice, but just as I’m about to pay John interrupts.
“Just one more thing you need to go with them” and he hands me a chain to attach to the retro pair to hang them from my neck, the chain makes me think of the one Edith has attached to her glasses and how she looks over them fiercely at as she presses her clippers into my bare neck.
“Your glasses will be ready in an hour” informs the assistant as she looks at me there’s a flicker of surprise on her face as she realises the lady who has just picked those glasses with the prim hair and clothes is actually not much older than she is.
I look back at her and think what I could do to her shoulder length over bleached dry hair, that floppy fringe would be the first tress to be sliding down a gown to come to rest on the floor, with a lot more quickly following.
We had plenty of time so we took a slow walk down to the salon and my meeting with Mrs Hood I’m both nervous and excited as I really want this now, John’s never seen the Gala hair Salon before and as we approach he spots it.
“Wow is that the salon were you first had all of you’re hair cut off it looks perfect can I come in with you”
“No you’ll have to wait out side I’m not having you distracting me, you’re taking a lot of interest in hairdressing shops lately” I reply with a smile.
“How could I not be interested in a process that leaves you looking so perfect for me”
“Well just make sure it’s only my curls you’re trying to influence”
Just then Mrs Hood comes out of the shop with a broom to sweep the step in front of the shop, she spots me walking towards her with John he’s got his work collar on and this always seems to impress the older ladies,
“She seems a formidable” whispers John
“You haven’t seen her with a victim in the chair” is my quiet reply
“Can’t wait” and I think he means this reply to.
We approach Mrs Hood
“Good after noon reverent and good afternoon Claire” speaks a surprisingly happy Mrs Hood”
“Good afternoon we both reply”
“Well good luck Claire and I’ll see you later”
“No need for you to shoot of Reverent, come inside and wait if you would like. We don’t get many gentlemen visitors here” comes Mrs Hood’s reply. I’m sure John would change that given half a chance.
We enter the salon and experience the wall of smells these places always have John goes over and sits on the waiting chairs,
I’m told to sit down as Mrs Hood pulls over two chairs foe me and her.
The interview passes quite quickly and were soon to the final part were she spells out what’s expected of me; I must always be turned out in a respectable and dignified manner,
Treat the customers in a respectful manner Maintain a moral standard in keeping with a lady
And finally my hair should be neat at all times and styled in a traditional modest style.
Turning to John she asks how he feels about me wearing my hair in this manner.
“I couldn’t imagine Claire any other way now, initially her hair was cut at my request so that we fitted in with what parishioners expected from a man of the church and his fiancé, I’m really pleased that she has been willing to subject her self to a image that has in many ways detracts from her natural beauty is at odds with her youthful age. However she carries her conservative style with a inner radiance that make up and tarty clothes could never reveal. I can honestly say that I hope she never changes, even if she could do with good trim back at the moment”.
All this has left me blushing and I suppose I could do with that trim.
This speech really seems to impress Mrs Hood; in fact John has really got her on side.
“Right then my Dear you’re training will start Monday morning, but before that you’re quite right reverent this hair defiantly needs a tidy, so no time like the present”
With this she goes over and pick’s up one of her capes and indicates for me to stand up.
“You do have time don’t you Reverent” she asks
I look at John’s face he look’s like the cat who got the cream
“Certainly Mrs Hood, as you say no time like the present, she defiantly needs a good clippering around those ears, and I’m sure you will be requiring some nice short uniform curls on top”
“Indeed so” comes Mrs Hoods reply
I’m soon shampooed and sat in the cutting chair,
“This will not take to long today” Mrs Hood informs us
A quick comb and she’s going for the clippers, no guard today I’m about to find out exactly what she expects from her employees.
The clippers make a pop as she turns them on, my heads pushed forwards then the clippers go hard into my neck, I really love this feeling and I can hear the note change as they run into my hair line.
She’s not cut to much off the top after all it wasn’t that long to start with, and now I’m receiving a head of tiny rollers looks like its curls this time not waves, I can see John’s reflection in the mirror he’s messing with his phone, now I realise what he’s doing he’s photographing me being set and now rapped in a net. The idea of seeing my self in an old fashioned hairdressers chair netted and rollered is a bit of a turn on and I can’t wait to see how I look.
He continues to film as I’m led to and seated under the dryer, he stops just as Mrs Hood turns round before she catches him.
Sitting rollered under a warm hood dryer is a pleasure I’ve come to appreciate, I think back to when I sat under this same dryer and watched hands full of my shorn long hair being thrown into the bin, all those hours I spent styling and conditioning just for it to be carelessly discarded.
In what seems like no time my day dreams are over and its back for a comb out.
I’ve had a very traditional set with the small curls going over from ear to ear not that they reach my ears after the clipping and razoring, the curls end in a step with white skin showing above my ears much like the first time she cut my hair, all though as the hand mirrors held up I can clearly see the back is not like that first time in fact my heart quickens as I look at the rear of a set basin cut the white above my ears continues all the way round, I’ve never had so much neck on show. Even for a lover of a nice smooth shaven neck as I have become this hairline is a surprise.
I don’t really have chance to take it in before the mirrors gone and the lacquer starts to fall on me, two heavy coats and I’m done.
“My that’s much better, I do so love that neck line you’ve created there’s nothing more lady like than the regal sweep of a well shaven neck Mrs Hood you’re a genius” enthuses John
It feels very strange to feel the whole of my nape completely exposed and smooth.
“Very nice Mrs Hood just what I needed” I chip in
I rise up and John removes my cape and hangs it up before stroking the bare skin now fully on show, his touch makes me shudder with pleasure.
Before he goes any thurther I go to the desk
“Thank you now how much do I owe you”
Mrs Hoods smiling proud of her handy work “Not at all my dear, you’re staff now I’ll be expecting you to return the favour soon, I’ll see you Monday”
With this John and I leave the shop
He’s stroking my neck as we walk away and every touch is making me shiver down to my tight girdle.
Just one call to make before we go back, it’s time to pick up my glasses
We collect them and the assistant fits them for me first the normal pair that look quite nice then the old lady pair John picked they really go in with my prim set and make me look even older than the set and clothes usually do, looking in the mirror the arms make my ears stand out more than usual and there’s no hair at all round my ears to soften this.
“They look wonderful keep them on” John whispers in my ear.
To be continued.
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