Russian Hair: I Now Have It

The other day, I looked in the mirror and sighed: it was time for a haircut, and I had some legitimate fears.  I knew that I would need to get my hair cut some time in Russia before I left, and I knew also that no matter what I did, I would probably end up with a Russian haircut.  And I was right.

I walked into the salon on the bottom floor of the Koltzo shopping center and looked around.  I wasn't even sure how to go about asking for a haircut.  Fortunately, out of the blue, the receptionist was incredibly friendly and helpful (not qualities usually found in the service industry in Russia).  I told her that I needed my hair "just a little shorter" (because I didn't know how to say "trim") and she smiled, sat me down to wait, and brought me tea.

When it was my turn, I sat down in the chair and tried to explain to the stylist (20-something, died-black hip haircut, rail thin, unsmiling) what I wanted which was, for the record, my normal style, only shorter.  How well did she listen?  Ha.

The entire process was unnerving, made worse by the fact that she was unfriendly and not particularly gentle.  She pulled, yanked, and jostled with reckless abandon.  I almost said something about her combing my ears at one point, but thought better of it.  Anyway, she lifted up a big piece off of the back of my head and CUT FOUR INCHES OFF.  That's when I knew that she didn't care what I said, and that I was getting Russian hair.

After the first cut I almost cried out, because I didn't really want a new style, but it then occurred to me that I also didn't want a big weird chunk of hair missing off the back of my head, so I let her do here thing.  And did she ever.  My bangs have never been more perfectly straight in my life.

At the end of the day, most people would probably not notice a huge change, and honestly it does look good, but after she finished, I almost started to cry.  This is what she says.  "You like it?"  I say, "Well...I'm American, and this looks very Russian to me, but it's not bad".  Her response, with a smile, "But it's lighter, isn't it??"  She got me there.

Actually, it's far from awful, and it's growing on me.  But it was a shocking experience.  Russian hair: I now have it.