Wouldn't a person with chronic pain have to know how to put on a good face to the world?

It's been years. I used to cry every time I went into the ER, the first few months. It was terrifying, I was hurting, it was awful. But it takes so much energy, and it makes everything feel worse. I have had migraines bad enough recently that I cried through the whole thing, but luckily, while they're awful, I know they can be worse (because they have been), and my reporting of pain levels reflects that.

I'm working on Stories from the Sidelines of Science, still. I'd love to talk about it all with you and write a story about pain treatment and minorities.

I don't know what I have to say, but I'd be happy to answer questions.

When my sister started working at a new salon, all the other hairdressers stood around her looking amazed when she did a foil wrap.

1982 was thirty years ago.

No it wasn't! It was just last week! Your math and your calendars have no bearing on my personal worldview!

But, I mean, what happened to all those hairdressers who dealt with people getting spiral perms in the 80s and early 90s? They had to cut curls. Where'd they all go?

Everyone who got spiral perms were getting layer cuts, because the point was MAXIMUM VOLUME.

Also, speaking from my 20+ years ago experience in cosmetology school, we didn't learn that you needed to cut curly hair differently than straight hair. Most of the techniques I was taught were about how to deal with hair that had been massively damaged by chemicals.

Tangentially related, I miss Fanci-full conditioning rinse. They had the best color of pastel cotton candy pink!

I am in serious need of summer clothes and there's nothing at all I want in the stores right now.

Seriously. Last time I went clothes shopping, everything was drapey and see-through.

I wanted to get some cardigans or light jackets to wear over sleeveless tops for work, and I was annoyed at how all of the cover ups had these flowy openings. Can I get a damned button? A hook and eye?

I want crisp woven cotton (or linen) princess-seamed blouses with cap sleeves. You can imagine my pain. Even Lands End is going through a drapey phase.

So as a Black woman, I have never had a White woman cut or style my hair.

EVER.

I know what you mean, Allyson, about finding a hairdresser who can do hair correctly. For me, I decided to go natural around 15 years ago and finding a Black hair stylist who also could style natural hair was a no joke affair. It became such a problem that I learned to braid my own hair. I have not been to a professional in years, and I need to go because I need to get a proper cut and I would love to sit in a hair and just have someone do my fucking hair, but I can't find anyone to do it.

I called up one salon that is about 60-90 minutes from here, but they want to consult FIRST and then I need to go back to have my hair done (which will take 3-4 hours).

As you can likely imagine, I don't really have that kind of time anymore.

I feel 10% of everyone's hair pain today: for the second time this year, a haircut I absolutely needed to get was canceled. I feel like this town is antithetical to good, reliable, reasonable stylists. I need to find someone new again, because I can't be calling into the salon all the time.