Last week I took Bella to get her first official haircut. We found a cute little hair salon for kids called Dots 'n Dashes (here's my shameless plug for the place) that cost only $13. The self-proclaimed Shear Director, Ms. Victoria, was a sweet elderly woman with a european accent. The first thing I cautioned her of when we walked in the door was that Bella was sure to cry. She assured me that she had years of experience with children of all ages and that she employed many tactics to make their first haircut a memorable occassion.
The entire salon was baby-proofed nicely; shelves of hair products were set up high so that little fingers could not reach, a large bin of toys and books lay in the corner, and an open space allowed kids to run about while waiting their turn at the chair. Even the little barber chairs were equipped with baby boosters.
We tried all methods of distraction - toys with bells and whistles, even a lollipop - but needless to say, Bella cried the entire time. I suspect she cried not only because some strange woman was touching her hair, but also because she was terrified that cutting her hair would hurt. Five minutes later (the woman cuts fast!), Bella was done. Her overgrown coif was now a nicely manicured version of Ramona Quimby, Age 8:
Bella's new cut minus the bowl-cut bangs (sorry I couldn't find a bigger picture of Ramona)
Ms. Victoria contemplated on using a blowdryer to clean up the scraps of hair, but one look at Bella's bright red face and fresh wet tears streaking down her cheeks, and she knew better. I showed Bella a scrap of her hair and explained that it didn't hurt and she looked up at me as if to say, "That's my hair and it didn't hurt!"
Soon we were on our merry way and Bella received a certificate for her bravery that read:
"This certifies that Isabella has been subjected to the shears and has bravely completed her first haircut. This individual is therefore awarded this certificate of satisfactory completion and is recognized as being fully eligible for future haircuts at Dots 'n Dashes.
Given this 11th Day of September, 2006
Victoria May, Shear Director"
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