new thread
A couple of months ago I was booked in for my first wet set by a girlfriend and I put up a post saying I was a bit nervous and asking what I could expect. Today I received an email (from a Brian) asking me to follow up on that post and let everyone know how it went.
Just to recap, this was a girlfriends suggestion since I was having probs with styling my hair at the time. I had had perms in the past, but she thought a wet set may be worth trying for flexibility and also because she had a particular style in mind.
The salon was located in the centre of a busy town and is inside a department store, so it was very busy on a Saturday morning when I went. The stylist who did my hair was competent, but I would say not too friendly to my situation and made a few comments like:- 'I bet you feel pretty stupid like this' or 'I've never done this to a guy before' etc etc. The actual process itself was fairly typical - i.e. wash, combing through a setting lotion, winding onto rollers (about 1" diameter) - she also put in a few pin curls around the sides/temples because my hair was too short to roll there. She then put on a net and put me under a dryer for about 35 mins. For me this was the most embarassing part - just standing up and walking through the salon with my hair in rollers and net was not too cool, and also the dryers were located by the reception and waiting area so I got quite a few stares too. She then brushed it out and finished styling it.
Overall, the style was pretty good and very similar to what my girlfriend and I had asked for. With a bit of care it also looked OK for about 2-3 days, but that meant sleeping in a hairnet at night.
Would I do it again though - well not in that salon, thats for sure. But I would say that it seems a lot of hassle for a day to day style - OK for a special look for some reason, or a treat if you like that, then fine - but I would think that there are better or easier to maintain type of styles you can get, or if you want curly hair all the time have a perm. My own thoughts are that you would have to enjoy the process itself to want to do this too often and the end benefit is probably secondary to this.
Paul
Definitely switch to another salon. Would she have said the same to a woman who came in for a buzzcut? I think not. The first time I've had my hair set in salons, the stylist usually has a question or 2--have you done this before? Are you comfortable sitting under the dryer in curlers? and the like. After that, and especially with my current hairdresser, it's a matter of course--Are we going to put you in rollers today? Anything else is sheer rudeness and, obviously, bad business on their part.
And keep one thing in mind: everyone of those busybodies who stared at you in rollers has now had their minds pried open just a crack. So find a congenial salon, don't let the gawkers get you down, and have your hair done any damn way you please.
P.S.: My own method is to just have my hair set for specific evenings; I call in the a.m. and my hairdresser can usually fit me in sometime in the afternoon for the traditional shampoo & set.
Paul
I had my first Salon roller set about a month ago as well. My hair isn't long enough yet to be called a longhair (just past collar), but I am working on that. The barber shop has seen my last visit. The operator was a little unsure at first also, but after sitting me down and trying to figure out what I wanted vs what she thought she could do considering the length of my hair, she got started. She washed and added a conditioner to add body to my fine hair. She used 3/4 inch velcro rollers on the top and 1/2 inch on the sides. After she finished the rollers, next came the trip undeer the dryer. Fortunately I was the only patron by then as I had made a late day appt. After drying she combed, teased, fluffed and all sorts of other activity including using a curling iron.
When she finished I had bangs as I requested, but also, a much more fem style than I was hoping for. Kind of poofed up and teased. She allowed that when it becomes longer she can do better.? During the fixing process her continious talk was somewhat distracting, and I think she assumes I was gay. (I am not)
Well I am going to give it another try, same salon, this weekend. This time I am taking my wife with me to reinforce what look we are trying to achieve. We want bangs, but kind of want curly/wavey over the rest. I sure it will be a little fem, but not like before. I will post again next week to let you know results.
Bill
PS: To Bashful Boy Did you ever go to Salon?