Monday, July 02, 2007

Hair today!

Story contd.

Mum came down to stay and I really wanted to get her to do something about her hair. It was soft and silky – a strawberry blonde colour – that’s titian in my book - but she wore it in a long plait which she wrapped round her head like a hairy Alice band. I had my own hair done regularly by the top stylists, when they used me, but my personal choice was a Mr Ralph, who was employed by a new, up and coming hair dresser.

Although hairdressers were keen to use me, they found my hair (soft, fine and fly away) difficult until they got used to it. I would tell them the best way to cope with it, but hairdressers never listen to clients – it’s in their DNA. Once a whole session was ruined when the stylist put brilliantine on my hair in spite of my warning her what would happen. Not only did I look as if I had jumped in the pool; the sticky goo had to be thoroughly washed out again.

Mr Ralph was different – quiet and unassuming and a gifted stylist. Mum was doubtful about having her hair cut so I suggested she watched him do mine and then see how she felt. Thoroughly reassured she decided to go ahead. I rejoiced as I saw her lose the dreaded plait and at least fifteen years in the process. She now had a soft pretty style which allowed her natural curl the freedom it had been denied for years. Everybody was delighted – I just hoped Dad would feel the same.

I had chosen this particular salon as my regular salon, because it was a fun place – with rocking music, a real buzz, and discounts for the modelling profession. Some of the Mayfair salons were full of ladies dripping in mink and diamonds, which weren’t my scene. I had met the owner when he was just a young apprentice and he had been given the unenviable task of attaching a solid rubber ring to my hair to represent a ‘Juliet’ hair style. It was an impossible task and the brushing got more and more violent until finally he flung down the brush, said he was a hair stylist not a (censored) genius.

He became world famous for his geometric hair styles – closely associated with the fashion icon Mary Quant. My type of hair was anathema to him and we had a friendly agreement for the rest of my modelling days that I would never ask him to cope with my hair again. My favourites of the many famous stylists were Steiner; who did wonderfully romantic styles, and French of London.

During Mum’s stay we had lots of chats but I didn’t talk about my marriage – I remembered her retort when Maddie’s was in trouble:

“You’ve made your bed – you must lie on it.”

We did talk about starting a family – she was just eighteen and Maddie not much older when they started their’s. I suddenly realised the next birthday I would be twenty –six; the bookings were pouring in and unless I made a stand, another year would fly by. But how would I break it to Paula? A fait accompli seemed the only answer; so my New Year’s resolution was to start a family. It was a wonderful release to discard all the family planning paraphernalia and by the end of January I was preggers.

18 comments:

Drama Queen said...

Simple as that. . .pregnant within the month! Must be fertile ground ;-)

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

I'm trying to imagine what the rubber ring looks like. But obviously, 'Juliette' didn't need it, she looks gorgeous in the photo below.

Whew...parents were harsh in the older days, weren't they? That comment, 'you made your bed...' I've heard of parents here saying that too, long ago, when girls dared choose their own partners.

Pat said...

DQ: for one thing we didn't have all the HRT and pill stuff in the water. Makes a difference.

Anonymous said...

You've made your bed. . . .
that was one of my mum's favourite remarks.
Yes, it's amazing how having a haircut can make you look years younger. It just takes a bit of courage.

DILLIGAF said...

a number 1 cut is easier but not really apt for you then or now I'd say....

mind you I had me pic in a punk mag once with a big mohawk.

wanted a mohawk again but Caz said "You are nearly 50 and you'd look a complete plonker". Women know these things don't they?

kenju said...

You were fertile, like me. All I had to do was look at mr.l kenju and I was pregnant....LOL.

A hairstylist who will listen to you? Doesn't exist!

Pat said...

GG: Mum was soft and sweet and cuddly; with a steel centre when she thought you were behaving badly!

sablonneuse: I'm all for a new hair style to brighten the day!

4d: good job you have Caz to keep you on the straight and narrow!

Judy: you know of which I speak!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

MARVELOUS, Pat..Just MARVELOUS! I love the story's of these very ego-manical hairdressers, and then the one who was a true humnan-being...!
Amazing life you have led, my dear..you lived throgh the fabulous insane crazy 50's and 60's, modeling in the most wonderful time----before it got so crazy with THINESSS..(Gee, I hope I am right..?)...
And now you are "preggers" as you say...What's next, my dear, what is, indeed, next?
Can't wait to hear....!

Pat said...

Naomi: most of us were naturally skinny - it was a totally different life style and the war-time diet. Before the children I could eat anything (lots of sweets) without gaining an ounce. Not today, alas!

Anonymous said...

Eat all the sweets you wanted without putting on anything??!

I dream of those days... Pass the celery!

Pat said...

Sim:People say putting on weight has nothing to do with metabolism, but my next post will prove the opposite. QED

Zinnia Cyclamen said...

Pregnant? Congratulations!! ;-)

granny p said...

Vidal Sassoon wasn't it? Oh the genius - his very geometrical stuff didn't suit me, what he did though was persuade everyone that straight hair like mine was FINE. No more hideous perms. They're should be a statue to him somewhere.

Glad you convinced your mum.... and pregnant. Where now?

Pat said...

Gee thanks Zin!

Pat said...

Penny: the very one. It's been amazing to see his progress. He was so right for the time (and I was so wrong - the story of my life!)
Where now? Up the duff!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Thanks for your visit, my dear, and your very kind words...

As far as the "voting"...well, maybe afterit's ALL done, I will write something about it.
This is the second round....there will be one more after this for the Final Final! It is interesting.

Anonymous said...

I remember Sassoon cuts being s-o-o trendy at school. I made our local hairdresser cut mine that way. I have dead straight, fine, fly away hair so, if I controlled it, the geometric looked really good.

Sounds like you actually lived what I read about in Honey, Petticoat etc .... and dreamed of. I could not wait to get to London ... !

Pat said...

Belle: I had my hair straightened a couple of times but it never really worked so I've learned to live with it. Working in London was jolly hard work - especially as I was commuting to Epsom.