Thursday, January 28, 2010

Out of focus

This is going to seem like a really random thing to ask and write about. What do you look at when you're getting your hair cut?

I went in for a haircut after work. As usual, I removed my glasses after taking a seat in the stylist's chair. My nearsightedness means that pretty much everything in front of me is fuzzy. In the mirror before me my eyes look like two dark, out of focus pits. I can't read the labels on anything on the counter top. I certainly can't tell at a glance how well the stylist has done in cutting my hair.

I was sort of zoning out during tonight's haircut when it occurred to me that I'm seated in front of a big mirror that is of no use to me until I put my glasses back on. (Yes, my powers of observation are strong.) Then I got to thinking about how the better sighted and contact wearers have a completely different experience. They can sit there and watch their hair being cut. But do they do this? Isn't that a little strange to watch?

Since watching my hair being trimmed isn't an option, I realized that I just sort of blankly look at the bottles and such on the counter top. It can be a meditative experience, especially if the stylist isn't talkative.

I'm genuinely curious what my eagle-eyed and non-glasses wearing readers look at when in the stylist's chair. Fill me in on your perspective in the comments.

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5 Comments:

At 3:50 AM, Blogger RedFlame said...

ha ha, thats funny. Being a hairstylist, before I got bit by a rattlesnake and was forced to quit, maybe I can shed some light...
Glasses tend to get in the way of us cutting your hair, especially men's cuts because we need to trim close around your ears, so yes, please continue to take them off!
I have always noticed that many women feel uncomfortable staring at themselves in the mirror for close to an hour,straight on, who does that under normal circumstances?!
And hairstylists don't particularly like the client that carefully watches them or how they are doing or how much they are chopping off!
so here are some suggestions, reading is always welcomed, lots of women take this time to catch up on their magazine reading that they miss often in our busy lives, meditating or zoning out as you did is always welcomed as well, and my favorite is when someone brings in their knitting projects... (now maybe since you are a closet knitter this wouldn't be a good idea) and always be careful for falling hair!
hope that helps :)

 
At 10:36 AM, Blogger Karen said...

Like you, I can't see much of anything without my glasses. During my time at the salon, I chat with my stylist and anyone else around me. If I have to sit and wait while the color on my head "develops", I use my cell phone to text friends, or surf the 'net. My stylist lovingly brings me coffee, and will hold up my glasses to my face if I need to see something - like how much shorter to make my hair.

 
At 2:58 PM, Anonymous LittleWit said...

I get my hair cut so infrequently I can't really remember what I do. I can without my glasses though so I guess I just kind of take in my surroundings while chatting with the stylist if they're the chatty type.

 
At 6:52 PM, Blogger the secret knitter said...

Thanks for the responses.

Reading, messing around with my iPhone, or anything requiring regular vision are out of the question since I still wouldn't be able to see well enough.

It doesn't bother me that I must take off my glasses during a haircut. I was just wondering what the other half sees.

 
At 8:28 AM, Blogger Jenn said...

I watch the hair cut, look around the salon, and chat with the stylist. So, I do not stare at the mirror the whole time, but I certainly keep tabs on what the stylist is doing.

 

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