APPEARANCES
Why do all the hairdressers I've ever met feel the need to comment on everyone's appearance? And what makes them think that their clients want to hear negative things about themselves? Because I've never once heard one of them say "oh, nice highlights!" or "what a pretty color your hair is!" Or anything positive for that matter.
My 11-year-old son, Ry, has beautiful light green eyes and jet black hair. He also has patches of gray hair on his head. He is not self-conscious about it right now, but puberty is approaching and I know that he probably will be sometime soon. You'd think that someone meeting a preteen with any kind of obvious physical issue would not speak of it. I mean, WHY bring it up? Because basically what you're doing is saying, "Hey, look how not normal you are!"
This happens to Ry every.single.time we take him for a haircut. And it's done L-O-U-D-L-Y.
Today it was my turn.
One of the store's "regulars" came in today. She is a hairdresser. She is also a pain in the ass, because she thinks she's the only customer in the world and we should bend all the rules for her. But I digress.
Let me paint a picture: I'm standing at the cash register. One of my co-workers is standing at the end of the counter. My boss is to my left. Three other customers are in line around the counter. This is the moment this person chooses to ask me what kind of shampoo I use. Thinking, wow, I am having a good hair day! (I thought I was), I answer "Pantene." She says, "I have this forty-dollar bottle of shampoo I can sell to you because I see that you're losing your hair. It's really falling out, isn't it?"
I was shocked into silence.
She kept on talking, and I finally looked her in the eye and said, "Stop. Stop it. Stop talking right now." She finally did shut up, paid for her purchases, and left.
I checked out the rest of the customers with a pasted-on smile on my face, and when they all left, I broke down and cried.
How dare she - or anyone - point out something like that in a crowded store? I don't think I've ever been so humiliated. My mother had thin hair, so I may have a predisposition for it. I didn't think it was all that bad, but now, of course, I'm upset and freaking out. I feel like everyone's looking at me and thinking the same thing.
Damn, sometimes I hate people.
