In the words of Yazz...

Fudgefund

Hello Robin :wave:

Thanks for dropping by, yes I am very busy at the moment, but also happy for the most part which is lovely.

You raise an interesting question about my haircut, which has definitely been forming in my mind too recently. Basically, I used to have a weird fear of having my haircut. I hated the small talk and not knowing what to do with my hands whilst sitting there, and the type of girls who cut hair with their Topshop outfits (huge generalisation I know). When I started going to my current hairdressers the girl who cut my hair somehow built up a level of friendly conversation I could cope with, so I kept going back.

My hair became progressively greyer as I got older, and I attempted a home hair dye kit which was fine the first time, but the second time I used it my scalp started to burn and my hair fell out (not completely, but it took about five years to regain the thickness). My hairdresser then told me about these organic dyes they use which are permanent, and offered me a patch test which I was not allergic to, and I've been having it done ever since. I am aware I absolutely cannot afford to keep this up. Not only does it cost between £90 - £100 depending on if it's an all over colour or just the roots, I also tip her £5 a time, so in a year this is over £800. I've seen an advert on tv recently for a non-ammonia hair dye so I think I'm going to give it a try (patch test first obviously). The trouble then will be going back to my hairdressers having dyed my own hair. I don't know why, but I'll feel really awkward about it. I may need to change hairdresser to avoid the situation, which will stress me out again.

I'm sorry - I bet you weren't expecting such a long response! I have lots of rules which govern my life, they've been with me so long I often don't notice. Not being able to go into a shop like Tesco without buying something in case they think I'm a shoplifter is another classic which comes to mind.

In other news, DB resolved the £25 for 9 days challenge by lending me £400 he had spare. I have paid £375 to Barclaycard to keep my interest down until I get paid (two weeks), and I'll pay DB back when I get paid (or possibly the end of the month to keep my current account interest down a little bit). Of my now £50 until I go away, I spent £8 on food at the weekend, I need £5 for my hairdresser and about £5 for the cinema on Wednesday. This leaves me with £1.50 for a loaf of bread for beans on toast for tea tonight (I had salad Saturday and Sunday so I do eat vegetables, honestly!) and 50p left over until Friday. That will give me £30 for the weekend, which is good as DB wants to go out, and I kept him in all of this weekend with my £8.

In yet more other news, I went to see the nurse tonight and she didn't weigh me! I didn't eat anything all day and then she didn't even oblige! The relief. :rotfl:

Scuff

Fudgie, I wouldn't worry about going to the hairdressers with home dyed hair - i used to worry but the hairdresser (2 of) always is pleaasantly interested in my colour. I also feel the same intimidation by these girls. I'm sure they're equally intimidated tbh. If you think for every time you say something you think is funny to be met by silence, and then to everytime someone else says something 'funny' & you meet it with silence. I'm pretty sure (if you're anything like me) on both occasions you would pretty much blame yourself. Surely the other person thinks this too? Food for thought x

*Robin*

Hi Fudgie, :hello:

Fudgefund wrote: »

You raise an interesting question about my haircut, which has definitely been forming in my mind too recently. Basically, I used to have a weird fear of having my haircut. I hated the small talk and not knowing what to do with my hands whilst sitting there, and the type of girls who cut hair with their Topshop outfits (huge generalisation I know). When I started going to my current hairdressers the girl who cut my hair somehow built up a level of friendly conversation I could cope with, so I kept going back.

My hair became progressively greyer as I got older, and I attempted a home hair dye kit which was fine the first time, but the second time I used it my scalp started to burn and my hair fell out (not completely, but it took about five years to regain the thickness). My hairdresser then told me about these organic dyes they use which are permanent, and offered me a patch test which I was not allergic to, and I've been having it done ever since. I am aware I absolutely cannot afford to keep this up. Not only does it cost between £90 - £100 depending on if it's an all over colour or just the roots, I also tip her £5 a time, so in a year this is over £800. I've seen an advert on tv recently for a non-ammonia hair dye so I think I'm going to give it a try (patch test first obviously). The trouble then will be going back to my hairdressers having dyed my own hair. I don't know why, but I'll feel really awkward about it. I may need to change hairdresser to avoid the situation, which will stress me out again.

Thanks for explaining. I share your distaste for the small-talk which hairdressers appear to think is an essential part of the experience. Why are they so nosy?

Your concerns about home-colour kits are quite understandable given the awful experience you had! :eek:

I was lucky enough to trial the first brand which developed an ammonia-free foaming hair dye, and was so impressed that I've used it ever since** (after reading how much you, Lucky and Sun.A spend at the salon, I've revised my opinion that the DIY foam is expensive @ <£15 per box - which does two applications with care and an accurate set of scales ). Results are at least as good as salon products.

There's no reason to worry what the salon girls will think if you go in with home-coloured hair. They'll be happy to get your business - but it's absolutely your choice as to what you have done.

Guess you must be off on your hols shortly - happy travels m'dear; do hope you have the most amazing time!

** ETA when I can find it on sale - same one Beanie favours.

beanielou

I use a JOhn Frieda foam which is idiot proof.
I couldent afford to keep getting the colour done but the same girl still cuts it.

Fudgefund

I have returned, for the pre-holiday update. I kept starting a post and then having to leave it, so now instead of packing I'm on here.

Scuff - I am used to resounding silences when I think I'm being funny - I usually keep it for people I know have a similar sense of humour! I can't say I get the impression my hairdresser blames herself for very much in life, when I sit there whilst she subjects me to the usual stream of consciousness chat about her diet/boyfriend/dog/house move she seems pretty confident about it all. And good for her really.

Beanie and Robin - Thanks so much for a recommendation! This is exactly what I was after, I will get onto pricing it up when I return from my travels.

The haircut passed without incident, apart from the fact that my hairdresser, whom I usually pay, let the girl who washed my hair ring it through. This put me in another dilemma - should I be tipping the girl who washes my hair?? I assume she's badly paid, but I wouldn't want to give her more than £2, but that may seem patronising. Sometimes I wonder how I've made it to 30 with all these problems. :rotfl:

Moneywise, the haircut was £10 less than I thought it would be, so I had a budget of £40 for the weekend (not very MSE but hey ho). I again deployed the kitty tactic with DB, and again it worked out really well! We got food and drinks and a trip to the cinema and all of this lasted the weekend. I realise spending £40 in a weekend isn't anything to write home about, but I wanted to get out a bit to make up for last weekend. I counted my change jar up and I have £11.64 which is good, when it gets to £20 I'll pay that off my Barclaycard. I had a NSD today, and I'm off at half past four in the morning tomorrow so that should keep me out of trouble.

I booked a taxi yesterday for the airport, and rang this evening to confirm, the bloke clearly had no record of the booking so knocked 10% off the price I had been quoted. This saves me the princely sum of £1.70. So MSE.

Anyway, I am off now and won't be back for a week. I shall be spending my $600 with wild abandon and making sure I drink as much alcohol on the flight as I possibly can to make sure I am getting my money's worth (I kid). I get paid whilst I am away so when I next get back I should be able to update my credit card finally.

Have good weeks everyone. xx

beanielou

Happy holidays

Scuff

Have a good time!

*Robin*

Have a great time, Fudgie! :j

But please, please keep off the booze as much as possible, even if it's free..

please-let-me-be-lucky

Sorry to have missed your Bon Voyage party!!

Hope you have a wonderful time Xx

debtfreewannabe321

Ah I missed you! Have a great time :j:j:j I'm super duper jealous! So I hope you had enough fun for all us mse'ers that aren't off on our jollies

And I just wanted to say with reference to the hairdresser that I trained as one many moons ago and when I got my first job I remember having the old ladies that used to dominate the conversation (usually as they didn't leave the house much and so saw it as an exciting trip out and they nattered the whole time :rotfl:) Aside from them though and the odd other person a lot of people would just sit there in silence and i'd feel like I had to make conversation :eek: seems silly now but I felt part of my job was to chatter away. I'm useless at chit chat too . Perhaps your hairdresser feels the same. I used to have customers in that would pull out a book or a magazine and I felt relieved to know that I didn't need to make conversation as well as do their hair (I know I sound useless :rotfl:) I've stolen this trick though for when I go out to get my hair done. I pull out my book and they carry on cutting my hair in peace . Also don't worry about home dyed hair, they must see it plenty, I know we used to. We certainly never commented on it (unless it was a really bad job in which case we'd offer a solution ) so please think again about doing your own hair