The Appointment That Was Never About Hair

Sometimes the appointment on the books isn't the appointment that really matters.

It's Not Always About the Hair

People think salon appointments are about hair.

Sometimes they are.

Sometimes a woman genuinely needs her roots touched up.

Sometimes she's overdue for a trim.

Sometimes she just wants to cover the gray that's suddenly multiplying faster than rabbits.

But every hairstylist knows there are appointments that were never really about hair.

The Real Reason She's There

You can usually tell within the first five minutes.

She walks in.

She sits down.

And before the cape is even fastened, she says one of three things:

"We need to talk."

"You're not going to believe what happened."

Or my personal favorite:

"I've had a week."

At that point, I know the haircut is simply the cover charge.

The real appointment is something else.

Maybe her child moved away.

Maybe her mother isn't doing well.

Maybe she's changing careers at 45.

Maybe she's getting divorced.

Maybe she's getting married.

Maybe she's excited.

Maybe she's scared.

Maybe she's exhausted.

Maybe she just needs someone to listen without interrupting.

An Hour to Just Be

For one hour, she doesn't have to be Mom.

She doesn't have to be the wife.

She doesn't have to be the boss.

She doesn't have to solve anyone else's problems.

She just gets to sit.

And breathe.

And be taken care of for a change.

That's something women don't do nearly enough.

We're usually the planners.

The caretakers.

The schedulers.

The rememberers of birthdays, appointments, medications, field trips, grocery lists, and everything in between.

We're so busy taking care of everyone else that we forget what it feels like to have someone take care of us.

More Than Self-Care

Maybe that's why salon appointments matter more than people realize.

It's not just self-care.

It's connection.

It's community.

It's an hour where someone asks, "How are you?" and actually waits for the answer.

The older I get, the more I realize that what women are looking for isn't always advice.

Sometimes they just want to be heard.

And maybe that's why some of the most important appointments I've ever had weren't really about hair at all.

Love,

Bawsey