Hair Color and the Jetsons

I am typically a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) kinda gal when it comes to my hair. But once or twice a year I do go and have it professionally done - usually when I am going from winter color to summer color or when going from a long cut to a short cut. As an early birthday present my mom paid for me to have "some highlights" put into my hair....which is really just the stepping off point for me to take over. Off to see Tracey@Vida's Salon. She understands that I cut (okay, hack and saw) my hair and even gives me color tips so when I DIY the dye - I won't turn my hair too red (been there) or too orange (been there too). Over the winter I decided that since almost everyone in Dallas was blond I would go for a color closer to my real color of brunette. A couple of things I found out about being brunette:

1. It does make my blue eyes brighter;

2. Brown on brown color doesn't turn too brassy;

3. Gray hair shows up a helluva lot more;

4. When your kids tell you that your hair is really gray and you really should do something to cover it up;

5. It is time to go back to being blond (it's easier to hide the grays).

The only thing that I have not been able to master at the DYI level is highlighting with foils - this how I ended up in Tracey's chair. The highlighting process goes something like this: Donna folds foil and hands to Tracey; Tracey places foil; she paints on the color on sectioned hair; folds over the foil; flip completed foil out of the way; repeat. Somewhere between folding and flipping foil, a sales representative appears wanting Tracey to try some new product. In the chair with nowhere to go and looking like something straight from the Jetsons (the episode when Judy goes the Jet Screamer concert), I listen patiently to the conversation of product composition, cost, samples, and availability when I extend my hand to the stranger and introduce myself. "Hi, my name is Donna" and I continue with my spiel. I don't think that she realized that I was talking to her until Tracey stepped in and told her that I write about people that I meet. Only then did she extend her hand and she said, "My name is Stephanie." "Well, it is nice to meet you Stephanie," I said. Somewhat unimpressed, she turned back to Tracey leaving her a price list and business card (I think). And with Stephanie's departure, we went back to my hair. Foils done, under the hair dryer, foils out, wash hair, cut hair, dry and style.....two hours I am done and out the door. I don't see Tracey that often but I never walk away disappointed.

The home experience is somewhat different color comes in a box, no foils, it only takes 45 minutes, and the final color is somewhat of a crap shoot. My friends and family can attest to the fact that I have been everything from orange (which required professional help to correct), to cinnamon, to blond, to mahogany, to brown. But at home I can sing; "Meet George Jetson; His Boy Elroy; Daughter Judy; Jane his Wife." Followed by "Eep Opp Ork Ah-Ah".