It was 9:00am. The salon was officially opened. The stylists were all in place and television crews were surrounding the salon to record the opening ceremonies. The grand opening was being advertised as an extremely anticipated event and with the promise of $20.000 for the most dramatic haircut on opening day, the streets were crowded with females wanting to get in and have a chance at winning the money. The contest only applied to the first twenty females in line. I opened the doors and officially welcomed the first female into the salon. I had been asked by the television crews to ask a few questions to the first three women who entered the salon. I came out with a microphone and approached the first three prospective clients. I really was not happy with what I was seeing. I really was looking for someone who was ready to surrender their youth and innocence and go for a dramatic cut. Most of the women were older in their mid to late thirties. Even a couple of them were in their forties.
?This is not what I was hoping for,? I said to my chief stylist after I asked the questions to the first three ladies. I looked down the line and quietly counted off the first twenty people. Included in the line of customers were a few men but the contest did not apply to them. I had purposely stated ?females only for the contest.? As I continued scanning the line, I saw something that perked my attention. About at number 17 or 18, I noticed a promising female. Long red hair, which reached down to her waist.
I called my chief stylist out and asked her: ?What do you think of that??
?Could have potential but I don?t think she is here to give up that amount of hair. It would really be dramatic if she did do it. No one else would be able to compete with her length. Not unless the last three females have something else to offer,? she answered.
I looked at the crowd of people. Having a microphone in my hand, I spoke. ?Thank you for coming to the grand opening of ?Dramatic Haircuts?. I am Andrea and this is my chief stylist, Pamela. Today we are opening the door to a new experience in styling. We cater to dramatic styles and today, with our grand opening, I am offering $20.000 to the customer who is willing to take the step and submit to something she would never do when it comes to her hair. Unfortunately, this contest is open to the first twenty females in line and it does not apply to men. So as I go down the line and count off, would you please step forward and follow Pamela into the salon? Thank you and I hope to see you back again in the near future. If you would like to make an appointment for a dramatic style, starting tomorrow, the receptionist will be able to help you. Give her your name and phone number and when you would like to come in. Thank you all for coming,? I said. I started walking down the line and counting off the first twenty females.
I got to the long-haired redhead. ?Number 17,? I said as I looked at her. ?You have nice hair. Why are you here??
She looked down and sighed. ?I need the money, seriously. Things have really been hard the past year and when I saw your advertisement???????..? she became very quiet.
?What did you have in mind to ask for?? I asked.
?A???????.? she said. But her voice was so muffled, I could not understand what she had said.
?Well, would you like to follow the other females into the salon?? I said. I counted off the last three females. All three of them had long hair but not as long as the redhead. I looked into the crowd of waiting potential customers. ?I am sorry. That is as far as we go with the contestants for the $20,000.?
Pamela and I had figured that twenty customers would take us three hours to do, depending on the cut. So by noon, we were hoping to be able to give the $20,000 to the winning customer.
Pamela had taken the twenty women upstairs and had them sign a legal release saying that they realized that the voting would be done by the three most visible members of the staff; myself, Pamela and our receptionist. All the females signed. And with that, the first five females were escorted downstairs to waiting chairs.
Pamela got number three and I took number four. Chairs were spun around, capes thrown around necks, scissors drawn and clumps of hair started to fall to the floor. I had to purposely pace myself because I wanted the red-haired female, myself. I wanted her to win the money and I wanted to be the one to try and talk her into sacrificing her long straight locks to my clippers. I knew that if she went all the way, there was no way either one of the last three would win the money because her hair was the longest of all the contestants.
The first ten customers took one hour to do. Basically the cuts were buzzcuts, crewcuts with shaved napes and shaved sides, and even a flattop or two which Pamela did. As each stylist finished a customer, she would go upstairs to get the next one.
I was working on number 12 when the four other stylists went upstairs to get their next customers. Pamela pulled the other three stylists aside and told them ?Slow down with your next customers. Andrea wants the long red-haired female. She thinks she can talk her into going all the way, completely shaven head.?
The three stylists nodded their heads and they approached their next customers. Pamela looked at the red-haired female and approached her. She was sitting off in a corner by herself. She looked very sad. ?Are you okay, Miss?? Pamela asked. ?You look like you have seen a ghost.?
?I don?t want to do this,? she said to Pamela. ?But I really need the money. I have been in line since 4:00am this morning. I was really praying that I would be selected but I really don?t want to be here.?
?Don?t worry. Andrea will take care of you. Believe in yourself. I think you have a good chance of winning depending on what you are willing to do,? Pamela said.
Pamela walked toward her next customer who was sitting in the waiting room and smiled. ?You are next,? she said to the older woman. ?I am Pamela. I will be taking care of you today. What will we be doing today?? Pamela and her customer walked toward the stairs and they headed down to the salon area.
Pamela came down the stairs with her customer. ?She is next,? Pamela whispered as she walked past me to her chair. I smiled. I took my clippers, took the guard off and raced them up the neck of my present customer. I finished her cut, took off her cape, dusted her neck and asked her to return to the waiting area to await the results of the contest.
I swept off my chair and grabbed the broom. I wanted to drag this out as long as I could so that I could think about what to say to convince my next customer to go all the way and let me shave her head completely bald. Also to allow me to keep her long hair as a trophy. I walked up the stairs and saw her sitting in the corner alone. I approached her. ?Hello, my name is Andrea. I am the owner of the salon. I will be doing your hair today. Welcome. Are you ready to descend into the salon?? I asked her.
She slowly nodded her head. ?Am I going to look ugly after I am done?? she said as she whimpered a bit.
?No, not at all. You have perfect features for a short hair cut. Nice firm cheekbones, a nice long neck and beautiful eyes. You will look stunning with a new style,? I said. ?I would be willing to say that you could pull off a perfect look with a completely shaved head, totally bald. What do you think??
?I really need the money. It has been a really hard year so far. I have not worked since I got out of school and I am living alone in a dumpy apartment. I wish I could go back home but I can?t. When I saw your advertisement, I told myself that it was time to grow up,? she said. ?But I am not sure I can do this.?
?What did you have in mind?? I asked her.
?Do you think I have a chance to win?? she asked as she looked me in the eyes.
?Anyone has a chance. One of these last three could be the one to walk away with it,? I said.
?I want you to shave my head, bald. I need to win that prize,? she said.
?You realize how dramatic this is going to be?? I asked. She nodded her head. ?Okay. Shall we descend to the salon?? I said.
I stood up and walked to the staircase. The first 12 customers who were in the waiting room saw what was following me. They all applauded as she followed me down to the cutting floor. The other four stylists saw her coming and they stopped what they were doing with their customers. Even Pamela stepped back and clapped.
I walked toward my chair, spun it around and asked her to sit down. Before she did, I gave her a supportive hug. ?Don?t worry. You will be fine. It will be over before you can imagine,? I said. She sat back and pushed herself back so that her back was straight against the back of the chair. The other customers who were in the waiting room and already styled came down the stairs and stood in the cutting area, including the last three customers. I grabbed my cape, flicked it opened and threw it around her neck. I grabbed a brush and stroked her long beautiful locks.
She looked so unsure. Please don?t chicken out on me,? I said to myself. ?Not now.? If she would have asked, I would have released her. I was not going to force the contest on anyone especially if they were unsure.
?What are you going to do with all this beautiful hair after I take it off?? I asked her as she sniffled.
?Nothing,? she said. I smiled as she lowered her head in anticipation. ?Once it is cut off, it goes in the garbage with all the rest of the hair you have swept up as of now.?
?So you would not mind if someone offered to buy it from you?? I asked.
I picked up a pair of electric clippers from off my counter. I took off the guard and oiled the teeth. I was going to need a lot of oil if I wanted to do this and save her hair. I did not want to cut it with scissors. I wanted it all to fall at the hands of the clippers.
Her hair brushed out and laid over her shoulders, I was ready to make the dramatic first cut. I placed the clippers on top of her head, allowing the media to get a couple of pictures. I then placed the teeth at her hairline on one side of her part. I lifted a section of hair and let it drop. I flicked the switch on the clippers and I heard a soft purring as they came to life.
?I am ready if you are?? I said. She sighed once more. ?Go ahead,? she said. ?I am ready.?
?You are a brave young lady,? I said as I dropped the lock of hair over the top of the clippers. I made the first cut into her locks, running a parallel cut down the center of her head beside her part. I gripped the locks as they came free and as I had a handful of hair, I would turn and hand it off to my receptionist who started laying it across a table for all to see. Some of the customers came forward to feel how soft her hair was and to look and admire the length.
?What are you studying in school?? I asked her as I took off another section of hair, continuing to push my clippers down beside her part.
?Languages,? she answered.
?What are you going to do with the money if you win?? I asked her. I was now cutting moving the clippers around her ears and pushing the teeth of the clippers slowly through her locks.
?I have to pay off my tuition for next year. That will be about half of the money. Then I want to get out of my dumpy apartment. Plus I need some new clothes,? she answered.
?What kind of work are you looking for?? I asked.
?I think right now, I would take anything. But I don?t think I would want to work at any fast food place. I am hoping my hair will grow back somewhat before school starts,? she said.
?Well, considering how strong your hair is, you obviously know a bit about shampooing and conditioning of hair. Your hair really is good and strong. How many times were you washing your hair?? I asked.
?Twice a day,? she answered. ?Sometimes more.? ?How long has your hair been this long?? I asked.
?Thirteen years,? she answered.
?Would you consider working in a salon if something was available to you?? I asked.
?As what?? she asked as I handed off another section of long locks. By now, I had clippered away half of her hair. I stepped to the opposite side and lifted the hair at her crown again. I placed the clippers at her hairline and I made the pass down the center of her head, for the second time.
?How about as a shampoo girl, kind of a go-fer position, doing inventory, sweeping floors, shampooing customers, helping out on the phone and helping the stylists with perms if necessary?? I answered.
?I would have to have a schedule that would work around school,? she said. ?Are you offering me a job?? she asked.
I was three-quarters through her clipper job. I was now taking off the last lengths of hair from around her ear. All that was left was to run my fine clippers over her head and then give her a shave. ?Would you be interested if there was something available?? I asked. The clippers were still purring as I took the last length of hair, twisted it around my fist and shaved it off. The nineteen other customers cheered and applauded as did my four other stylists. ?Look up,? I said as I placed my hand under her chin. ?You are almost finished.?
She did look up and viewed herself in the mirror. ?Wow! That is fantastic. Look at how big my eyes are,? she said. She was definitely excited about what had gone on. She looked over her back and saw the pile of hair laying on the table. ?That is all mine?? she asked.
?All yours,? I said. ?And it did not hurt a bit, did it??
?No, I didn?t even realize how much you were taking off and how fast. How long have I been sitting in the chair?? she asked.
?Fifteen minutes at the most,? I said.
?That is all?? she said.
I nodded my head. ?I am not finished yet. We need to remove all the stubble. Do you want me to finish?? I asked. ?Then a nice lather shave?? I said as I placed my hand on her shoulder. She looked up at me and smiled. Her eyes were indeed big and they sparkled as she nodded her head. I smiled again as I picked up my small white clippers and ran them over her head, removing all the traces of stubble, cutting her hair down with a .000 guard.
I took her cape off, shook it out and threw it back over her shoulders. I placed a towel around her neck as I wet her head down. I lathered her head with thick white lather and took out my straight razor. I stroked it against a thick leather belt and placed my fingers at her ear. I pushed it down and I started shaving her to the scalp.
The shaving took six minutes as I did it twice to clean a couple of more stubborn points but once I finished and took the towel, wiping around her ears and her neck, she smiled again as her hands went to her crown. She rubbed her head and giggled as I turned the chair around so that she could see the finished product.
?You look fantastic,? I said. She got off the chair and walked to the mirror. She was so pleased that the feeling of desperation and how she would be accepted disappeared. She was so happy.
I turned and pointed to the final customer, waiting to be cut. I looked at all twenty females and before I asked the last female to sit down in my chair, I looked at all the other customers. They were around my red-haired customer, wanting to touch and rub her head. I looked at Pamela and my receptionist. I walked over to the table and gathered my customer?s long red hair into a bundle, holding it in my closed fist. I draped it over my arm and walked back to my chair. I then spoke out to all the customers.
?Ladies, may I have your attention, please?? I said as I walked over to my previous customer. ?I am sure you would all agree that this young lady is by far the rightful winner of our contest prize. Would you not all agree that she is deserving of the $20,000?? I said as I held out her long red hair. All the nineteen ladies clapped and nodded their heads. ?Even with one customer left, I don?t think there is anything that is more dramatic then this.? Even Pamela and my receptionist agreed. ?Ladies, thank you for your support and for coming out today. I hope you will come back again soon.? I turned to my formerly red-headed customer but now totally bald customer. I looked at one of the other stylists and told her to do the last customer. Pamela and I walked back to my office with the winner. I smiled as I opened the safe and took out an envelope. I handed it to her. ?Congratulations,? I said. ?I am proud of how well you handled yourself.?
?I was honestly going to ask you to stop,? she said. ?I did not think I could go through with it but I did not even realize that you were moving along as quickly and as quietly as you were until you told me to look in the mirror. Thank you very much for making me beautiful. May I ask you a question??
?Of course,? I said.
?Were you really offering me a job?? she asked.
?Would you be interested if I had a position open?? I asked. ?We do need a shampoo girl to start tomorrow. Could it be you?? I asked. I looked at Pamela. ?What better publicity then a bald shampoo girl, a real fashion statement. What do you say?? I winked at Pamela.
?I could not agree more,? she said.
?I am sure we can work around your schedule when school opens again but I assume you would be available full-time for the summer months?? I said. She nodded her head in approval. ?Good. Let?s get you put on payroll, then you can go out and get yourself some cool clothes for your first day tomorrow.?
She nodded her head and walked over and gave me a hug. ?Thank you so much,? she said.
?No, I thank you,? I said. Pamela walked back out into the salon area and spoke with the media, telling them that a winner had been chosen by the nineteen other ladies, who had been selected for the contest. Back in my office, I had the young female write out all her important information so that I could get her set on payroll. I then went to the file cabinet and took out my purse. I opened it and took out my cheque book. I wrote her out a cheque for another thousand dollars.
She looked up at me as I handed it to her. ?What is this for?? she asked.
?I asked you what would you do with your locks after I cut them off. I asked you if you would allow someone to buy them. I want to buy your long hair and put it on display in a glass box over my chair. Will you let me buy it from you? This will more then cover the cost of some nice clothes in exchange for your beautiful hair,? I said.
She nodded her head. ?Considering what you have done for me today, I would not want to give it to anyone else then you. Of course. I will allow you to buy it,? she said.
Author: hairman001 Copyright protected ? 2003 Copyright legal and registered to author. Not to be distributed to any other site without permission of the author.
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