Re-make/re-model

I had my hair cut this week (thanks, yes it does look good) and it got me thinking about how the experience has changed over the years.

When I was 9/10 my Dad took me to "Price's" men's hairdressers in Shirley Road, where he too had his hair cut. This involved me sitting in the chair on a board, which rested on the chair's arms, thus raising me to the prerequisite height. My only real memory of that visit was when he sharpened his cut throat razor  and then used it on the back of my neck! I didn't go back there again!

Thereafter I normally went to Eddie Hornes Barbershop at the other end of Shirley, where I later discovered my good friend Paul also went, but well before we knew each other!! Between the ages of 9-16, despite the fashion for "long hair" I had essentially a "short back and sides" and therefore the hairdresser basically cut my hair as short as either my Mum or Dad instructed.

Once I was in the sixth form, I was allowed slightly longer hair until having started work, I first went to a "Hair Salon"! This was highly recommended by my friend Ian, who had discovered "Peter Carol's" in Bedford Place Southampton, where gorgeous, blond female stylists would pander to your every need. Suitably inspired by Ian's tales my best mate Grahame (that's how he spells it) & I rolled up one Saturday morning to have our hair "styled". This was the first time that part of a hair cut featured washing it first and an hour later I emerged from the salon with basically the hair style I had ever since!!!! The stylist had been every thing Ian had promised and i waited outside for Grahame who seemed to be delayed. And I waited and I waited and eventually I presumed that he had actually finished before me and got the bus home. The reason for the hair styling was our friend Rosemary's eighteenth birthday and so, as we did, I called for Grahame en route to the party at her house. When Gray opened the door I realised why we had missed each other at the Hair Salon...he had had a "Kevin Keegan" perm!  Laugh, I nearly died through hysterics!!!

Now, this week's experience. I still have my hair washed, but now I lie in a massage chair while that happens and I get offered (and accept) a complementary "tea tree"face treatment and an Indian head massage. Before my hair is cut and while sat in the chair, I also have a back massage and am given an Apple Danish and a pot of Tea. Then an assistant puts a black smock over me and puts a black rubber collar round my neck and hey pesto I'm Darth Vader It's all come a long way from the cut throat razor!!!