Steamroll.

You know when you have those lovely days when the Universe really looks after you. Your stars are aligned. Venus is in your rising moon. Birds chirp in your very presence. The sun shines down gently on you all day long. Everything is wonderful and cheery.

Yesterday was not one of those days for me. At all.

The morning was crap. I won’t go into details, but I’ll start with mid-afternoon. Yes, let’s start with mid-afternoon, shall we?

I was getting out of the car. My bag strap caught around my leg so I half tripped. My phone fell to the ground and fell apart. I picked it up. It had turned off, so I tried to turn it on. Nope. No love. Phone: broken.

My phone is only newish. I only just started on a plan. So getting a new phone is out of the question.

Something must have been funny with my lunch. I was feeling like I could vomit any moment and had a headache that even a few panadol wouldn’t budge. It was constant and disgusting. Delightful.

Straight after work I had an appointment to get my hair done. I had exactly enough time to drive from work to there and be just on time. As I drove up the road from work. My petrol light goes on. I make a quick detour to get petrol.

Of course, it’s not that simple. The big petrol truck is in refilling the bowsers. So I had to wait a moment. So wait I did.

I quickly left from there and up to the hairdressers with no time to spare. I was trying a new hairdresser because I’m trying to be thrifty and I had a gift voucher. The salon is an expensive, well known one. I thought I would be in good hands.

So I get into the hairdressers and sit down. Now, I hate hairdressers for the mirror factor as it is, but this one. This one was delightful {insert sarcastic tone}. There wasn’t a bench or anything between me and the mirror. Just me, sitting in a chair, in front of a full length mirror. Delightful.

So I sit and consult with my new hairdresser Vincie. He basically decides what he is going to do with my hair, because it’s current state was too yellow and he wanted to fix it up.

Halfway through doing my hair I realise that the price that I got over the phone, probably isn’t going to be the price that I pay Vincie. He’s doing some extra stuff up there. So I ask politely: How much is this going to be?

The new price is $130 over what I was told on the phone. Darn it. I scrap the cut and the blowdry. Even more delightful.

So Vincie wants to converse. My head is pounding, my stomach is churning. Converse is that last thing on my to-do list. I bury my head in my magazine and try to look as disinterested as possible.

Vincie: What do you do for work?

Me: I’m a Nanny and a Mum.

Vincie: You watch lots of daytime TV then. Smirk.

Me: No. I don’t. (What the heck does he think Nannies do?)

Vincie: Lots of people have Nannies around here. I think that if you have children you should look after them yourself, not pay other people to do it for you. Rant. Rant. Rant. Rant. Rant.

I was completely insulted. I hear this stupid rant often. I have my own little rant in return that I give out, and it’s good. Really good. I couldn’t be bothered to give him what for though. My head hurt. I didn’t want to talk. So I just looked and him and half smiled a fake smile.

He didn’t get the point though, and he kept pushing it. And pushing it. I wasn’t buying into it. Keep insulting me Vincie, I thought. Good work.

I think he knew that he had lost me. In that moment I knew I wasn’t coming back to that salon again. So he decided to throw in a compliment: You know who you look like? Alison Sweeney from Days of Our Lives.

I had no idea who he meant. I just smiled and said an awkward thank you. Not sure if it was a compliment or not. Later I googled her, and this is who she is below.


Anyways. My hair was done. And it was U-G-L-Y. Think Big Bird yellow. I wanted to cry there and then. But I didn’t. Instead when he asked: Do you like the colour? I had a case of verbal diarrhoea.

Usually I’m from the school of keep quiet and then come home and whinge, but yesterday was different. I don’t like it, I said. I hate it. I hate the colour. It’s yellow. And wrong.

Don’t forget these lights throw gold, said Vincie.

Throw gold? I thought. I’ll throw something at you in a minute. My hair is ruined.

I couldn’t bear to be there a moment longer. The colour was and is beyond disgusting. I quickly threw it back in a ponytail and headed for the desk to pay.

Vincie said nothing more. Took my money and refused to converse any longer.

I walked as fast as my legs would take me to the car. I didn’t want any of the shoppers staring at my ugly hair.

I got to the car and headed for the exit. I couldn’t find my ticket. Parking is free if you enter after five, so I wouldn’t have had to pay… if I had my ticket.

I search high and low. No ticket.

So I have to go back, find a parking spot and then head to the machine.

I press the lost ticket button and pay FORTY FREAKING DOLLARS and wait for my new ticket to be printed.

Nope. The printer didn’t work.

So I press the intercom button. The loud voice booms over, drawing more unwanted attention to me.

Tell me your name and your registration, it says.

So I do. And then he asks me to spell it. SLOWLY. So I do.

And then I run to my car. And I cry.

I get to the exit and the boom gate is open. Which means I could have just driven through without paying the $40, if I hadn’t paid it already.

And then I get home. Fall into Hubby’s arms and cry big, fat ugly tears. He assures me my hair is fine. I tell him it’s not. It’s ugly and it’s yellow. I have never had such a bad colour. I don’t do beanies, but I’m seriously considering it. I don’t want to go outside with hair like this.

If I put it into perspective, the day isn’t so bad. People are doing a lot worse than me. It just felt like it was steamrolling from one thing to another. It felt a little out of control.

I think the thing that started the steamroll was that I decided to give up breastfeeding on Wednesday. I have a huge case of Mother Guilt that won’t budge. My breasts are so full and painful. A nice, constant (and painful) little reminder of the decision that I made.

What I like about bad days is that they end. New days are full of hope and opportunity as the sun rises.

May this day be a better one. xx

40 thoughts on “Steamroll.”

  1. Feeling bad about your hair is the WORST. do you have the gumption to go back and demand another stylist out of the salon fixes it? I’m not sure I would, but it’s the kind of thing I’d *want* to have the gumption to do. As for the engorgement, do you know about sage? Sage will dry you up. Get fresh herbs, not dried, and boil it into a tea. It doesn’t taste so good but I add sugar. When I weaned my elder I made a potful and kept it in the fridge and drank until it was all gone – no more engorgement – one less thing to worry about. And I hope today IS better.

  2. oh telle, chin up pretty lady. i really feel for you, there is nothing worse than a hairdresser doing unruly things to your hair, then having to pay for it.

    as for the BFing, not being in any position to understand you, i just wanted to offer my support and tell you all your decisions for you and miss L are absolutely the right and best ones.

    hope your friday is kinder to you

    xox
    DC

  3. Thank you so much for your advice, NotEverStill – I’ll try the tea.

    I don’t have the gumption to go back. I’d hate to sit there and have them snickering around me. I don’t know what I am going to do. Today I think I’ll wear a cap.

    I just wanted to thank you for your words. They made me feel better, and supported. xx

    Christine – Paying for it near killed me. $230 for this shite. Seriously? Lucky I didn’t get the cut and blowdry. $360 is ridiculous. xx

  4. Oh Chantelle, I’m so sorry to read about your awful day! Getting your hair done is supposed to be a lovely thing to go through. What an arrogant bastard! I hope you have a fabulous day today xx

  5. How bloody traumatic… 🙁

    ‘Telle I would seriously call and ask to speak to the owner of that Salon. I would be asking for them to fix it or better still refund your money – to let a customer leave so unhappy, let alone insulted is just not on! Contact Fair Trading if they refuse. I am serious!

    Secondly, if Nannies apparently watch TV all day (as do us Mums..yeah whatever) how the HECK does he know who the chick from DOOL is anyway? Dickhead!

  6. Hon, get some De Lorenzo toning shampoo – it’s purple and I swear was the only thing that stopped me looking like an egg yolk when I had platinum hair.

    Hope today is a better one
    xox

  7. I’m so sorry you had such a terrible day. (HUGS)

    I never used to have the gumption to go back and tell them if there was a problem until one day a friend of mine said that if I didn’t do it then she would and she was the type of person who meant it. So I got in touch and the manager of the salon called me and was so apologetic and got me to come in and they fixed it all free of charge. I understand the feeling of not wanting to “complain” but it reality you paid for something and got a completely different thing. The salon would have to run by idiots to completely ignore the words of a customer, especially in this day of age and especially with the fact there are a million other salons you could go to. Besides Vincie or whatever his name is sounds like he needs to be “dobbed on” – how dare he treat a customer like that?!

    At least think about it?

  8. Chantelle, WOW what a Bad day…thinking of you.
    Sorry about the hair and those prices are insane.
    On the BF front can you express a little to ease discomfort or just do 1 feed a day? hormones could be wreaking havoc to due to this 🙂

  9. The hormones and the breast-feeding decision are pulling on you and making everything feel out of control and I have to say, it sounds like a HIDEOUS day. I have had so many bad hair disasters I could write w hole blog just on them…and right now I have what sounds like the same ‘gold’ highlights as you which I hate but have lived with for 6 days now and am learning to realise that no-one takes any notice of me or my hair anyway… I went from brunette to blonde at the school gate and not a flicker froma soul! But I am sure this horrible day was like your inner most feelings ganging up on you and making one thing after another rollerball into something yuk because you are feeling that way about this next stage in your child’s development. But just think for a moment about all those wonderful moments you two shared while breastfeeding and how lucky you were to do it(and if to help you not feel so guilty, when my youngest was born I had such hideous mastitus that I bottle fed after three days and she was my easiest, most chlled out baby. However, I felt so terrible about this I told the midwife I was still breastfeeding – that is until bea puked a big bottle-milk thick sick right in front of her…not your average three-day colostrum. I was very ashamed.) So here is to your bright new tomorrow.

  10. Oh gosh Telle, what a spectacularly horrible day for you! 🙁 I seriously just would have REFUSED to pay that amount. He shouldn’t have been doing above and beyond what you asked for for a start, and to insult you AND ruin your hair. I would’ve just left either without paying or only paying the price he quoted you on the phone!

    Big hugs, I hope today gets better!

    xx

  11. By the way, the comment from Blooming Kids is actually me…MumSeeksLife but I was still signed into my new-not-going-anywhere-business-idea-project-blog ‘BloomingKids’. Sorry about that!

  12. and I thought MY day was bad. You poor petal. The worst is the parking incident which topped it all off! I hate hairdressers that don’t go with what they have quoted!!! And does he even have kids? Does he know what it is like to be a parent? or HAVING to work to support a family?

    Totally, ring up the hairdressers and say you are not forking out any more $ but you want your hair fixed OR go out and treat yourself to a winter mimco hat!

    xx

  13. What a crappy day, the $40 parking really finishes it off! I’m a non-complainer as well (ahhh, confrontation!) but once when my hair was really ‘brassy’ I complained and they fixed it free of charge… But I also completely understand why you wouldn’t want to go back, Vince sounds like a moron. $360 for a cut, blow dry and colour – wow!!

  14. Chantelle, I hear you!
    I had my hair done last Saturday (at a “cheaper” salon to save money) only to leave in tears too. She made my beautiful, blonde hair yellow and orange, with a mass of regrowth because she didn’t do it to the roots! All I wanted was my streaks to be re-done. Not so hard, you would think!
    I could’ve done it better myself! I was so upset and refused to leave the house until I could get into a differennt salon to have it fixed. There was no way in the world that I was going back there. I figured if they couldn’t do something as simple as streaks, how could they fix it!? Anyway, I went to a different place on Monday and I am now a brunette for the first time in my life! I’m still not so excited about it, but it’s better than the mess it was!
    Saturday was supposed to be MY day. Leigh had the day off and was happy to mind Keeli all day so I could go and have some time to myself. Needless to say, I had a crap day and was not in the mood for shopping with THAT hair!

  15. hope today is a bit better for you. sounds like a very average day…

    re. hairdressers, i’m glad i finally found a local non-flashy one who do the job at a third or less of the price than the fancy places…and who do a better, more personal job.
    i would recommend but i live on the other side of town to you!

  16. Hugs Chantelle… giving up breastfeeding is a tough decision and not made easier by our hormones. The hairdesser and car park sounds terrible..

    I hope you have a sun shiney day today.

  17. Oh Chantelle – I want to give you a big hug.

    Days like that are frankly just…shit. I’ve had many of them. Its good to know you have a wonderful husband to kiss your tears away.

    Giving up breastfeeding is HARD. I cried for three weeks when I gave it up early in the piece. It just didn’t work for me. I can’t say to you ‘don’t feel guilty’ because Mother Guilt goes with the territory. Be proud you did it for so long. Lacey is healthy and beautiful and its all thanks to you.

    Today is Friday. Its the beginning of the weekend. The last time I had a hair disaster I went to Priceline and got a toner. That definitely helps if you think your hair is a little yellow.

    xx

  18. Oh Telle 🙁 I’m sorry you had such a craptacular day, but, if anyone can work big-bird yellow hair, it’s YOU! I’m sure you can make it fabulous. xx

  19. Oh you poor thing 🙁 It might not be the most important thing in the world, but the state of your hair really does make a difference to how you feel.

    I recommend that you go and buy the purple De Lorenzo shampoo. It will make a huge difference immediately. My hair throws a lot of gold, and this shampoo can actually make my hair too cool if I’m not careful.

  20. hey, new to ur blog. im having a pretty shit time myself at the moment, and was glad for this distraction of yours.. believe me, my bad days are becoming a financial nightmare, think blown tyre in the rain, parking fine cracked all sump and a windscreen for good meausre (almost at the 2500 mark!) so keep this in mind.. when ur living over seas for a year and decide to come back.. make sure u have an escape plan in place..
    oh and i am a hairdresser – would love to fix it for you or even give u the name of a good purse friendly salon who could.

  21. name and shame the hairdressers sis!who was it?

    magic silver white from the chemist is meant to be an old favourite too.

    how you feeling today?

    love u

    sis

    xoxo

  22. I completely agree with all the above!! Call, speak to the manager, tell them you said at the time you were not happy, but you were too upset to think straight and ask what they can do. Money back or fix it free of charge with a different hair dresser. If you brought a TV and it didn’t work you would take it back right? Will this is no different. You have paid for a service that you didn’t receive and are not happy with.
    And weaning is hard, and messes with your hormones too. What a fantastic job you have done to feed so long!! Lacey is very lucky. Claps for you 😀
    xox

  23. Oh Chantelle you poor thing :(. Definitely ring up and speak to the manager. I know you will feel horrible the whole time you are back there but it will be over quickly and then you will (hopefully) look fabulous. Oh and I hate the “throw gold” line, I must have heard it a thousand times. On a better note, have you received the mobile yet? It should cheer you up :).

  24. I’m so sorry about your crap day 🙁 I’m getting my hair done tomorrow (I am blonde too and just need the regrowth done) and now I am going to be very cautious! By the way, I went to a salon once and the girl left the bleach on so long that it burnt my scalp!!! Grrrrrr

  25. oh telle
    you poor thing you really did have a crap day…. giving up breast feeding, hairdressers and huge parking ticket is all too much for anyone you certainly have the right to a huge cry….

    everyone is right though you really should ring and complain to the manager not just about the hair colour but about the some what lacking manners of the so called hairdresser (and please do tell us which salon it was or at least a hint…)

    i had the worst ever hair cut when i was pregnant with layla, i was feeling the worst, no pregnancy glow for me, and thought a new haircut would do wonders……well i left the hairdressers at first speechless and then a hysterical mess for days, mark tried to convince me to go back and i refused. however these days i am trying to be more confronting, like telling off the bank assistant the other day or complaining at a resturant, complaing about jesse’s haircut things i never used to do. It really does make me feel better to be honest with people when they have annoyed me in some way.

    I also can not ignore the hairdressers comments about nannies, who the F#%$ does he think he is….yes that is all us nannies do is sit around and watch days of our lives, what an ignorant piece of shit!!!!! sorry but people like him have absolutely no idea and should really keep there useless comments to themselves. He obviously has time to sit around and watch days of our lives in between ruining people’s hair….

    as for the breast feeding, you have done an absolutly amazing job to get this far, lacey is a very lucky bub and you do not need to feel the least bit guilty about stopping. i can’t imagine breast feeding either of mine for as long as you did… you are inspirational.

    i hope today was a better day and i also hope you have a wonderful weekend with your little family.
    love to you all
    Bee
    xx

  26. Thank you EVERYONE. I have come home from work to all these beautiful messages.

    I am not sure what I am going to do. I wore a cap for half of the day, and then took it off.

    The kids were like: What’s with the hat all of a sudden?

    When I took off my hat… they looked a little stunned and told me they understood.

    I am feeling better about it. I’ll have a think tomorrow morning about my plan of attack.

    Thanks for the support. xx

  27. That is just shite about your hair Chantelle!!!! That money is just highway robbery! I would definitely be phoning (or chicken out & have hubby phone & pretend I'm too upset to come to the phone!) and defend at least a partial refund.

    Hope your weekend is lovely.

  28. Don’t be sad….go back in there and be very polite and say ‘I am not happy, can you please fix my hair’….then say ‘ALL of my friends (means that you have told alot of people about it, and thats bad publicity) said that all I have to do is come back and you should fix it.
    And you are definitely not a bad mother, you have done so well feeding up until this point.

  29. Telle you poor thing. Having a hair disaster can make you feel crap – after many years of kidding myself I can dye my hair at home I know! I would go with the purple toning shampoo as well. Works wonders.

    As for Vince, if you have the bottle then I’d complain too. “throws the gold” my foot – we want to have blonde hair not gold hair!

    I bet you still look gorgeous 😉

    Sammi xx

  30. oh no poor you! i've had the same hairdresser for so long and she's so good! never a bad cut or colour and i just don't think of the price anymore!

    ugh in melbourne I had my hair done at a new hairdresser before my sisters wedding..I said a full head of highlights..she said it would look better all over blonde with a few highlights….I was unsure but she said trust me!!!! Oh my lord the regrowth!!!! took me a couple of trips at my regular lady to get it back to my normal shade of blonde and cost me a fortune!!! thankfully hair grows !!!
    Corrie:)

  31. Oh love, Big Bird hair is the worst and your HD saying 'this throws a lot of gold” is talking shit to avoid fixinh his mistakes. Get goldwell violet toner and use it once a week and get NAKK purple shampoo and you should be sorted.
    xx

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