Jean Louis David

sadness, they’re closing and being shipped off to the 61^st location. sigh! i’ll be following Irina there!

I was having a bad hair morning. Not only that, but Maritess’ voice was in my head, saying «Maria [insert look of disappointment here]! Put your hair down,» before she snaps my picture. «Fluff it!» she says. OK, Maritess, I see your point (and let me just add that not all of us can have that good, Filipina hair). I should really stop having my hair up all the damn time. So, I needed a cut, and off I went to the CVS of hair salons, Jean Louis David.
There were three people working, and none spoke English well, but hell, hardly anyone at the UN does either, so I was OK with that. I was quickly led to the hair washing station by Maria, who was Russian, and she wet my hair a little and proceeded to shampoo and condition. Since the chair did not lean back properly, I got some water in my face and part of my forehead was also shampooed. I was not looking forward to the cut. But desperate times call for desperate measures, so I went through with it.
I sat down in front of the mirror, and Maria whipped out an electric razor and came at me with it. «What are you going to do??» I exclaimed, fearing for my head. «Don’t worry. Is new Jean Louis David teccchhhnic. It latest thing. I only take off little and show you, OK?» Maria did her best to soothe me. I put down my magazine. I needed to pay attention. She did a nice job, but I had to protest when she almost went at my bangs with that machine. «No, no!» I said, guarding my precious, sideswept bangs with my hands. «It’s OK!» Note, however, that she was also receptionist, so she had to take several time-​outs from me to switch duties, so the cut took about 10 minutes longer than it should have, and I am not the picture of patience.
In the end, everything turned out OK and the blowout was lovely. I even learned how to achieve the Farrah Fawcett wings, should I ever need that, though I didn’t leave the salon that way. No, not today. But if Unilocal ever decides to throw a 70’s skate party, I got the skills.
I paid $ 43 for the whole thing, which I guess is not too bad. I paid, tipped, said «Spasiba» and was out the door with enough time to pick up a salad and stroll leisurely back to work.