21 November 2010

Lurking and stress, with a little optimism for good luck

I've been meaning to write a new post all day. It's 9:00 at night and I'm finally getting to it.

I'm not sure what brought me to Blogger. I think it was when my old friend Sheree started a blog to chronicle bringing her daughter home from China. I saw the little tab on top that said, 'next blog'. With that little click, I entered into a part of the web I had no idea existed. I clicked, next, next, next until I found The 4th Avenue Blues. And I read. I spent hours reading. I read Andrew's blog back to the beginning. Andrew inspired me to start my own blog. I'm so grateful to him for that. I read his blog, but I never commented. His writing was so good. I didn't think I could write anything nearly as good in response. The comments that people left on his blog were so good too. I started reading their blogs. I was a lurker. I didn't even know the term existed until Andrew wrote a post about it. I came out. Not only did I comment on Andrew's blog, but I commented on the blogs of the people who consistently left comments on his. They wrote wonderful blogs. You know who you are, friends. My life has really been enriched by the people I've met here. It started with Andrew, and he's always held a special place in my heart. I've seen his life evolve. He listed my blog on his sidebar years ago, and my readership quadrupled. I was honored to be his special friend. He helped me figure out the HTML and get my former template up and running. He put this one up too. I trusted him with my password. I've sent him cards over the years. He's been a buddy, a friend. I'm profoundly sad that he's gone without a trace. So many people feel the same way. If you're reading this Andrew, know that I miss you. You won't be forgotten. I await the day that I hear from you.

I had a horrendous hair color experience on Saturday with a long-time client. Lesson of the day? Trust your instinct. I was very careful with mixing my client's color. I was showing someone new to the salon how we use scales to measure color. I told myself, Cheryl, pay attention to what you're doing because you're talking and measuring and reading your formula all at the same time. So when *the color in the bowl didn't look quite right, I ignored my instinct that something was wrong. Because I knew I measured the right colors exactly. I had a break while she processed and I spent it hanging out in the back room. I never have time to hang out. I should have checked her color since my instinct had told me that *the color in the bowl didn't look quite right. When I saw her color (I had applied it to her inch of gray roots only), I was speechless. She had an inch of pinkish-red hair. We don't have mirrors in the color area. Oh shit, oh no. Red is very hard to fix. Pink-red especially. I broke it to her, and told her I'd be getting my friend Sheri to help me out. Sweat. Fear. Loathing. Well, stress, yeah. My client was great about it. So easy-going. She said she didn't have anything to do so she was fine. Sheri was only going to Bed Bath and Beyond. I was supposed to get off early and go to Borders. I really, really wanted to go to Borders. Thank goodness she was my last client. Long story short? Can't do it. I told Sheri how sure I was that I did the right thing. We looked in the trash to find the empty color tubes. 6G (gold). Check. 7G. Check. 7N (natural)? No. 9R? Yes. RED! How could this be? So it was my fault. Sheri came up with the formula to correct it. I apply it. I leave it on a full 30 minutes. Sheri stays. What an angel. We rinse it out and it's...darker and red. I had to tell my client again. She said, maybe I should look at it? I said, I don't think that would be a good idea. And she didn't! Can you believe that? The fix should have worked. The fix was 6G and yellow. While I was working on the next step, which was putting in foil highlights, Sheri investigated. She checked all the chemical records of the day. One person used 9R and threw away the empty tube. The one in the trash. So it wasn't me! I didn't use red on her hair. The fault was with whatever was in the tube of 6G. And not just one tube. The one that caused the initial problem. The one that didn't fix it. So, I foiled. Another stylist, Debbie, helped. We tested a new color to apply to the roots of the un-foiled red hair. It worked. We applied it in-between each foil. The 'fix' took 90 minutes. When my client finally saw herself, she said she could still see a little red. We told her what she was seeing was nothing compared to what it had been. It was barely noticeable. And the good/bad thing about reds? They fade. Can I tell you how happy I was to leave for the day? SO happy. I went to Starbucks and had two lattes. It was BOGO day and I needed both.

Tomorrow's a work day. I'm having a one-day weekend. Tomorrow I have 3 (count 'em) 3 new clients. Three new clients in one day is really stressful. I'm not one to wish away time, but I can't wait till tomorrow is over. Even though I know in the end the day will turn out to be fine, just fine. Forever an optimist. That's me.

Is it Thanksgiving yet?

15 comments:

Lena said...

Aw, nice post about Andrew. I think we are all feeling the same way. I hope we hear from him soon.

What an experience with the color! That must have been so stressful. Glad your client took it so well. Glad you found out that it was not your fault.

We should never ignore those feelings that something is not quite right.

Jules said...

I miss Andrew as well. His was also my first blog experience. From there I met you, and so on. I hope he knows how much we appreciate the spark of writing he ignited in so many of us.

What a gruesome day you had with yhe Miss-Color. Did she leave a tip? Or did you comp her service? How did it all conclude?

Did she make another appointment?

C.A. said...

I've been checking regularly to see if Andrew has returned. :(

I think my pulse went up the further into the hair coloring debacle you got! I'm so glad it worked out in the end!

Thanksgiving will be here before you know it!

C.A.

Cheryl said...

Fortunately, I've been doing this client's hair for over 25 years. We've grown up together :)
The salon let me comp her products, and she was very happy about that. She scheduled her next appointment. If she has any problems, which I sincerely hope she doesn't (oh, the stress!), I'll do her hair until she's completely happy.

happyone said...

I'm seeing later today for a hair coloring. Hope I don't end up with red hair! :-)

Golden To Silver Val said...

omg, you're not going to believe this but.....I didn't know anything at all about blogs either until our computer tech at work gave me his and his wife's blogger address so I could follow along with their progress of adopting their little boy from CHINA! I did the same exact thing....read theirs, then clicked on "next" and eventually wound up on Andrew's blog, 4th Avenue Blues. I was fascinated so I bookmarked it and read it every time he posted something new. That's been so many years ago. I didn't comment for a long time either. I think I found your blog through his, along with a bunch of others that I still read. I, too, miss Andrew and am so afraid of what may have happened to him. He loved to write so much....and I can't imagine anything keeping him away unless he's just too drugged up now. I hope he knows how much we all care about him.
LOL, your story about hair coloring reminded me of when my neighbor colored my hair (I thought she knew what she was doing) and it turned out bright ORANGE! (think mega carrot-top) OMG, I threw on a headscarf and went to get some Roux rinse because we couldn't color it again with anything else for a few days or I would have had serious breakage. HA...the good old days!

Summer said...

I'm very worried about Andrew. There doesn't seem to be anything any of us can do but wait.

Glad that all worked out with your client's hair. It must have been so stressful for you.

Rob-bear said...

I've just trundled over from Diane's Coexist. Since I'm a Bear I don't do hair colours, meaning I've turned from a Brown Bear to a Polar Bear over the years.

Brilliant "save" on the part of the whole bunch of you. And, yes; 'teamwork" rules.

Have fun blogging.

Jamie said...

Awesome post about so many things, Cheryl.

I found Andrew the same way as you all...now I am left wondering what has happened. I wish so much he would just check in with us.

Have a beautiful holiday, girl. It sounds delightful...I would love to have as much family as you. Big, big hugs. :)

beachgirl said...

I am always amazed by how you get the colors right all the time. I think you had your worst nightmare come true and so glad your client was a great sport. I would have also been a good sport.
I hope you and your family have an awesome Thanksgiving.

Mary said...

I had just such an experience with my hair several years ago. For some reason I thought it was funny. My hair was a blazing burgandy! My hairdresser cried but he did fix the problem without much trouble.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving. It sounds like a lot of fun.

heiresschild said...

though it wasn't when you wrote this post, it's thanksgiving now. HAPPY THANKSGIVING Cheryl. thank God for color that goes on top of color when the intended color doesn't turn out right. lol!

i used to read blogs without commenting also 'til one day someone wondered how many people were reading that particular blog and not leaving comments. then i came out of the 'blog closet.' i used to read Andrew's blog also. i do pray he's ok.

CRUSTY MOM-E said...

I couldn't agree more. Andrew was my first, and thanks to him, I met you. He is the six degrees of Blogging and the real people in the blogging world of words really hope he's okay==and miss him!

You and I will have to catch up re: the comment about video games. Yes, you are right-it's about the management of the game-the time-and the games, based on how I feel what defines "disrespect."

I hope you're having a great Thanksgiving!!! Miss you my sweet Cheryl~
Thanks for being there for me, at the most difficult of moments===I will always remember that and to this day cannot forget how luck happened and you did and you made a huge difference-because of your heart and your genuine friendship.

I'm thankful to you and all of you that have been so much to me..

Maybe the batmobil and batman and robin could get Andrew back. :)

xo

Gulf Coast said...

I am a lurker too and what you wrote on your post, is exactly like what happen to me and how I came upon Andrew's blog. I too, read other blog friends of Andrews. That is how I came to your blog. I do not write much but enjoy reading blogs. I cannot wait until Andrew comes back. It will be a happy day when he does. Happy Thanksgiving to you.

KathyA said...

Holy Crap!!! I think I would have thrown up! You are soo strong and sooo good at what you do!

So no one has yet heard from Andrew? So sad...

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