On needs, wants and sixty dollar haircuts
I consider myself to be fairly low maintenance. And no, like like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally–I’m not a woman who thinks she low maintenance but is really high maintenance–I really am low maintenance. Mostly.
My day to day wardrobe consists of jeans, t-shirts and flip flops (except on those bitterly cold days where I am forced to wear closed toe shoes and socks.) I don’t buy shoes to go with a particular outfit. I have shoes or boots in black, brown, tan, navy and cordovan. Okay, I do have a pair of leopard print heels with a big red bow on them, but those were purchased to wear to a Christmas party, and my blood sugar was pretty low at the time. I wasn’t thinking clearly.
Besides, practicality aside, they are pretty fabulous.
My make-up routine, if and when I wear it, takes less than 10 minutes from start to finish. I color my own hair. My haircut is fairly simple. Long layers with bangs (see giant head shot to your right). I get a $30 haircut about every 6 to 8 weeks and my bangs trimmed once in between. When my days get particularly busy (as they have been lately) my overgrown locks are relegated to a high ponytail and the bangs are pushed to the sides of my face.
My hair grows incredibly fast. I know hair experts will tell you that’s a misnomer, that every one’s hair grows at about the same speed, but they’re wrong. Which is why after putting off my regular appointment at the hairdresser (I use that term loosely. I actually get my hair cut at a barber shop) I was of the opinion that my unruly mane needed the attention of a master stylist. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term “master stylist” it means among other things that you are going to pay more than $30 for a haircut.
I enjoyed my visit to the salon. Tony the master stylist truly is a master at what he does, and the salon experience is several notches up from what I’m accustomed to. Upon my arrival at the upscale salon, I was offered my choice of beverages, including wine. The woman who shampooed my hair also conditioned it using a hot towel draped over it for good measure. While waiting for the conditioner to do its magic, I was treated to a hand massage. All part of the upscale salon experience.
Beautiful building, beautiful people and a pretty good cut and style, all for the price of $60 plus tip.
I could get used to that. And if I’m being honest, it’s not as if I can’t afford a $60 haircut. It’s just that I don’t really need a $60 haircut every six to eight weeks. I’ve never once been accused of being frugal (my husband will certainly testify to this). I just think that after two or more subsequent visits, I would most likely rationalize that $60 want into a $60 need.
William Shakespeare said familiarity breeds contempt.
I think it also breeds entitlement.
We tell our kids they need a college education. The truth is, we want them to have a college education. Statistically speaking, they will have a much higher earning potential if they have a college education. But they don’t need one, and they’re certainly not entitled to one. They haven’t earned the right to one simply because they successfully completed high school, despite what many would have you believe.
I live in the Houston area, and while technically having a vehicle falls into the want category, public transportation being what it is here and the fact that the area is so large and spread out makes having a vehicle as close to a need as one can get if one wants to be self-reliant. I don’t, however need a late model Jeep Grand Cherokee, contrary to the impassioned sales pitches I received from three different car salesmen while I was waiting to have my 2008 Jeep Commander serviced.
So often we blur the lines between needs and wants, and that’s a recipe for resentment.
As to what we’re entitled to in this great country we live in?
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Not happiness, mind you. Only the pursuit of it.
The founding fathers had it right.
Everything else is just gravy.
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I’m so glad I’m a dude and will never have to worry about a sixty dollar haircut. I mean, I understand that women, with all that freaking hair are going to cost more, so I’m not necessarily talking crap, I’m just grateful. You’re a wise one, you are. But tell me, was the hand massage awkward? I’d panic a little if somebody tried to give me one of those. Then again, I don’t like the freaking chiropractor touching me. But that’s because he asked me to take my pants off. Confused? I was too. So I never went back.
Anyway, that was probably too much information.
Snort!
whooohaaa!
i missed the whole hand massage part until i read your comment, Jake. i was still wrestling with the $30, wine, towel, and woman. (now that sounded a bit odd, figurative wrestling, figurative wrestling)
blessings.
That shoe? Brought tears to my eyes….I want them. I need them. I think I’m entitled to them. Sorry if the message was lost on me. I can’t get past that beautiful shoe! They wouldn’t happen to be a size 7, would they?
And P.S. Here in southern Illinois, my upscale hair salon hairdresser cuts, colors, thins and styles my hair for $45.00. Come down for a visit and I’ll treat you!
(Bring the shoes)
Smurfette,
Do you have some kind of google shoe alert on your smart phone? I actually thought of you when I bought them.
Seriously? They offered you wine? harumph. My hairdresser charges $80 (Canadian dollars) and doesn’t offer wine. though he does give a mean scalp massage.
and I know. I don’t need the haircut but for about a week after — my hair does look wicked awesome. And then… it starts to grow. Again!
What’s with that? Can’t it just hold it’s shape and never change?
harumph.
Love your insight. You always make me think and laugh.
I gripe when I have to pay ten dollars for a haircut!
Wow – I figured all that would cost 160.00.
I love what you wrote “William Shakespeare said familiarity breeds contempt.I think it also breeds entitlement.” That’s pretty wise.
And haven’t they re-written this… life, liberty and the purchase of happiness?
$60.00 haircuts. . . oh my. I had a friend come over and put blue streaks in my hair the other day (not dyed, just extension types), but that’s about all I’ll do, and I only did it for my appearance at a book fair (the blue matches my book cover). . . I’ve never gotten into the spa and beauty salon things. Probably because I can buy six books for that same amount of money.
I know, I’m so LAME! LOL. Have a SUPER day, KAT!
But isn’t your smile worth the $60 haircut? They go together so well.
Your shoes brought my vision into reality. One woman in my first novel wears red bow shoes similar to yours – same effect though.
You said what’s been on my mind a lot lately. After reading “A Hole in our Gospel” a couple of years ago, my whole attitude about spending and what I’m entitled to has really been turned upside-down.
Dearest Kathy,
Land sakes, girl, your post and all these comments have brought tears to my eyes. Tears of confusion and laughter and astonishment.
My husband cuts my hair three times a year. Straight line across the back and viola! we are done. My 8-year old offered to do it last time and literally chased me around the house with a pair of scissors. (oh, don’t run with scissors, blah, blah, blah).
I cut their hairs, always have, with #2 or #3 clipper attachments. I only charge $5 when whining is involved. Really. Ask the kid who runs with scissors.
You spelled wine wrong, right? You all don’t tip a back a bottle in the barber shop do ya? I need to get out more. Or lock my doors.
In a state of confusion,
(like always)
Darlene
Good gravy! You let your husband cut your hair? You’re a brave woman. But I already knew that.
I cann’t mentally wrap my head around regular hair cuts. If there was a maintenance “poverty line” for women, I would be below it. I’m fairly certain it’s been more than a year since my last haircut.
I get my hair cut every two years. I like to grow it out so I can donate it to “Locks of Love”. The fact that I can grow a crop on it makes my head good for SOMETHING at least. (Besides, of course, my stunning good looks. SNORT!!)
I don’t wear high heals, but I LOVE that shoe! If only I could find leopard print flats with a red bow in size 11W. I’ll be waiting for it with baited breath. (Yep. Tuna for lunch! HAHAHAHAHA!)
I know what you mean about entitlement. I’m ashamed to admit, I feel that way about my twice a year pedicure. But I have to do SOMETHING to make these 11W’s feel dainty!
I quit barber shops 15 yrs ago. $9 set of clippers fro wallyworld. BOOM. Done!