For the last three years, I have been going to the same colorist. I adore her. Before I found her, I would inevitably leave a salon in tears. I would dart home to wash my orange hair myself to see if it looked any better at home. It didn’t. I would then spent 4-5 hours at the salon just trying to get a decent hue back. It was always a nightmare.
Until Shareen. With her, I was in and out of the salon in an hour and a half. She could actually style my hair properly so I was able to go on with my day after the appointment. She knew how to comb my hair out so I didn’t end up in tears. She didn’t talk too much. Simply put, she was a miracle worker. Even after we moved, I would continued to drive well over an hour to see her. She was worth it.
The last time I visited, she handed me a business card with her cell phone number on it. In case you ever need to reach me, she whispered cryptically. I shoved the card into my pocket without thinking twice. Later that afternoon as I was paying for my coffee, the card fell out. I chucked it into the trash along with my used Splenda packets. I mean, I loved her and all, but it’s not like we’re pals. I didn’t need to be calling her at home. There’s simply no room in my 20 pound bag for anything superfluous. And that was that.
Until last week when I called to make my appointment. Shareen is no longer with us, the bitchy secretary reported when I requested by usual 10:00 Saturday time slot. My gasp was audible. Where did she go, I cried? We aren’t allowed to tell you that, but I would be happy to book you appointment with someone else, she responded. I stuttered that I would call back and hung up the phone. It was tragic.
Like any social media obsessed girl on the brink, I shared my dismay on Facebook:
I was encouraged by the feedback: Google her! Facebook her! Pretend to be a debt collector! Call other salons in the area! All fantastic suggestions, but I’m saddened to report that I have done all of the above and come up empty.
I have called the salon, 17 times to be exact, and am no further along than I was last week. I’ve masked my voice, I’ve impersonated doctors and credit agents and I have groveled. I’ve even left two messages for her friend who cut my hair once and I couldn’t stand. Nada.
I’m waving the white flag and never throwing away another phone number. And I’m getting used to orange hair again.
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{ 78 comments }
She has to be out there somewhere! What salon did you go to? I will put on my super sleuth hat and track her down for you!
Sunday recently posted..We met Bambi Sort of
Ha Ha! I found her! Just sent you her forwarding info via DM on Twitter.
I think I see my future as a private investigator!
Sunday recently posted..We met Bambi Sort of
HOLY SHIT. I cannot believe you. Seriously, this is insane. Have you considered going into PI?
Seriously, I think you win for ‘raddest reader of the week’.
For reals.
Good on ya, Sunday.
Loralee recently posted..When a man is a fan- Navigating the mommy blogging world when you’re a dude without getting your boy bits cut off
I hear the Lucy Ricardo look is hot for fall.
Ugggh, I can totally relate. I have hair like you, actually, VERY curly and hard to handle. I’ve gotten so attached to my curly stylists over the years and feel that I could never leave NY as a result. As for hair color, that’s key, too, and I would freak if my current colorist left town. You’ve reminded me of my grays now……I need to get it colored.
But in any case, you’ll find someone new – color is color. For me, my hair style is more important cause of these kinky curls all over my head. One time, I went else where to pay less, and it looked like I had sat in an electric chair.
holly recently posted..Reading in the Digital Age
Curly hair is SO hard for people to get. My hair is the source of so much stress, it’s ridiculous.
I don’t think I could survive it I lost my stylists. Seriously, she’s everything to me. So, so sad.
Allison @ Alli ‘n Son recently posted..Hidden in the Shadows
I just complimented a woman at the coffee shop on her gorgeous orange trench coat. I guess orange hair doesn’t seem as hip.
I’m sorry for your loss. A beloved hair stylist cannot be replaced.
Dana recently posted..Clear skies
Id love an orange bag. Hair? Not so much.
Ooh, that’s brutal.. If it helps, I wouldn’t have picked up on that either. And I’ve walked the path of the copper-penny orange hair a few times myself, so I feel your pain.
On the bright side, I’m delighted by that debt collector idea and will try mightily to remember that for future such disasters.
I would never have thought of it myself. I may just do it for fun now.
Oh sorry. Where do you live? I have an awesome colorist/stylist and she makes house calls. Be warned, she will drink lots of wine while she works but its worth it.
Raquel recently posted..PART 2- The Dog
Baltimore- A house call sounds amazing. I didn’t know people still did that!
Oh noooo! I got that problem solved when my sis in law left her salon in NY and moved in with me!
I’m attending Momzshare this weekend and look forward to seeing orange. :)
I haven’t gotten my hair cut in 3 years, so I never have this stylist problem. I have 3 friends that are stylists though. The last time I had my hair colored was in HS and it was blood red (yea I was one of those kids). I’m actually kind of afraid to go get my hair cut now….but it is starting to look like a crazy thick lion’s mane so I have to do something. *sigh* I need the hair fairy.
OMG! You poor thing! it took me YEARS to find a good stylist. I don’t color anymore but I used to be a double process blond so I know what you are talking about. Honestly, I would ask to speak to the manager and tell her that it’s not like you are ever going to go to their salon again anyway so they might as well tell you where she went. I mean, it’s not like you are taking business away.
Scargosun recently posted..Caption It!
The manager was a bitch! Each and every time I called.
Do you not know her last name? She must be listed in the phonebook some where. My stylist is my hair Goddess and I would absolutely die a little inside without her! Perhaps it’s time to hire a P.I. to track her down. After all this is an emergency of EPIC proportions!
toywithme recently posted..Girl On Girl Action Isn’t For Me
Totally epic!! Her name is a pretty common Indian name, and she has no home phone. Damn cell phones!
I’m going to get my stylist to start wearing a GPS! Tout Suite!! Yes, my hair is THAT important.
toywithme recently posted..Girl On Girl Action Isn’t For Me
Oh no! I am so sorry for you! I throw numbers out too and then kick myself. Why can’t I be that organized peson who immediately adds it to my contacts? My husband mocks me. I think you would look hot with any color hair – but this still sucks. Let Sunday go ahead and help you sleuth. We shall find dear Sharine!
Brittany at Mommy Words recently posted..The World on My Mind and a Hand Near My Tush
I’m Facebook friends with my colorist/stylist…if she ever leaves the salon I will totally find her.
I’m sorry, I hope you have more luck!
AmazingGreis recently posted..Fall…
I suggest going to the salon she used to work at and finding the stylist in the next seat, and getting your bangs trimmed or something. Then slip her a $20 and ask where she went. :) It might work.
I can’t stand when a Salon throws out the “were not allowed to give out that info” line … BULLSHIT! They don’t wanna give it out!! So I say you call back and DEMAND to know where she went & if they don’t want to comply then you have no choice but to discuss the horrible service you received from their establishment on your blog that has THOUSANDS…No, MILLIONS of woman readers…Need you say more!!
Ok ok … Maybe just a tad over the top but from I just read were talking about a Hair Genie!! Gotta do what’cha gotta do to find her!! ;). Hahaha!!
LOL. Seriously, what’s up with that? They must get off on all that power. Assholes.
I have followed my stylist for the past 9 years. One thing I would suggest is that maybe you can speak to another stylist there and see if she knows. Sometimes they will talk about things that they don’t discuss with management. It’s a competitive business and when a good stylist leaves, management gets pissed and nasty.
same thing happened to me with my waxer! she got let go but she called all her clients with forwarding info :)
The real L.A. love story. recently posted..My very first date Ever
Ugh, I am dying for a decent stylist. My mother in law cuts my hair (she happens to be a hairdresser) and well, I get a little tired of it. She does it for free though.
I also suggest bribing some of her ex-co workers.
oh sweet jesus. momma, girl that was dumb. my stylist did that to me and I took the card home and placed it on the fridge where it would never move.
try looking her up on anywho.com
does she drink coffee? know what town she lived in? does it other salons?
vanillasugar recently posted..chocolate ganache cupcakes
So dumb. I just love throwing things away.
ouch, ouch, ouch…as someone who knows that happiness is completely propotional to the way my hair looks, I know how awful this must be,. I really HOPE that you can find her.
HUGS
Kir recently posted..Perfect Moment Monday- A Life in the City
It really is, isn’t it?
You’re no having the best of luck at the moment, are you?
From the suggestions above I would go for the bribing a fellow stylist too. Bypass the management completely. They have no compassion.
And if it makes you feel any better, my hair has gone completely mad of late. I look like I’ve been experimented on during the night…
Sarah recently posted..Ten favourite moments of autumn
No, not particularly. October better kick some serious ass.
A good hairstylist is like money in the bank.
How hard could it be to find a Shareen? That doesn’t seem like a very common name.
Jennifer recently posted..Jodi and Jennifer on diets
Do you know anyone else that used her??
I know how you feel. I FINALLY found someone that knows how to cut and style curly hair. I will go to her until the day I day.
I hope you are able to find her soon.
Missy recently posted..Lives of Integrity
Nobody. Amazing how hard curly hair is for people.
Ha! The bill collector idea is genius!
After I moved to my new area, it took me TWO years to find that perfect hair stylist/colorist. I immediately became Facebook friends with him so I could track him down if he ever moves away. I hope you find her soon – I mean, how many Shareens are there in the world?!?
Aimee @ Ain’t Yo Mama’s Blog recently posted..A Toddler and his iPhone
All I have to say is that really sucks ass.
Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation recently posted..100th Post! Why I am SO GLAD Fall is Hereor should I say coming
What if you take a fake police badge into the salon with you and start asking questions? Surely they’d tell you then!
Oh no! Perhaps one of Shareen’s colleagues at the salon can give you her number; if your beauty salon is like mine, many of the hairdressers are friends and hang out together after hours.
Lynn from For Love or Funny recently posted..My decision to go gluten-free
Did she know you have a blog? Maybe she’ll look YOU up.
Laura recently posted..Wordless Wednesday- The Cute Kitteh
She does, but I don’t think I’ve ever told her the name. She’s young and single- I can’t imagine she’d find me.
I can’t believe you found her! Gotta love blogland. Did she share her secret about how she got the info?? lol
I’ve already had long discussions with my Bradley. I have been seeing him for my hair literally since he graduated. I can’t understand why so many other stylists don’t listen to you when you tell them what you want. I have come to a point with Bradley where I just make an appointment with him and tell him he is free to do whatever he likes. I know I’ll leave looking gorgeous. I’m so comfortable with him, I can send my daughter to him with no qualms that she’ll come home with scary hair. I’ve already followed him from his first salon to this one. We have shared emails and phone numbers (I met him at a bar while he was still in school for hair), so I was lucky enough to get a call when he left the last place.
Next time Jill, when she gives you her card, take it and give her yours!
zeghsy recently posted..The Big D- and no I dont mean Dallas
That is a hilarious story! Everyone has those days… where they do something completely normal (like throwing away something that doesn’t seem valuable in a cluttered purse) that turns out to have a big affect on them later. Such as orange hair… hahahahaha :) good story
Alex recently posted..The Continuing Story
Sunday you’re awesome!
Jill I’m glad you found your girl again. I still don’t have a stylist I love. I went to a guy here 3 times then he moved salons and the old salon was very vague about where he may have went. Oh well, he was expensive anyways.
Ah yes, I had a similar thing happen once. The scrap of paper, the washed jeans. Except my problem was my stylist was using one of those fake names. You know cause there was another stylist there with her real name. So I lost her completely.
This has totally happened to me. I even called the salon pretending to be Bed, Bath and Beyond and said we had a wedding present for my stylist and needed to know her forwarding address.
In addition, I may or may not have called as her mother.
Or an adoption agency looking to connect my stylist with her long-lost father.
It’s been three years now and I STILL CAN’T FIND HER.
Yay! That’s awesome…I would be devastated if my stylist left and I couldn’t find her!
Heidi recently posted..Sneak Peek It’s a Safari Baby Shower
Oh man….Sunday is amazing! I still can’t find a stylist I like. Mine left her salon to go teach and now I am lost trying new people but haven’t found any I like. Care to share you girls info since we are both in Maryland. Might be worth a long trip for me….curly hair is so hard to find a good stylist for!
Thank goodness you found her–a good hair stylist is the best! My hair is the only part of body that looks decent (most of the time) so I value the care my hair stylist takes with my hair.
I have been following you for awhile and love your blog–here is a Versatile Blogger award that I am giving to my favorite bloggers!
http://www.alittlebiteoflife.net/2010/09/beautiful-blogs-new-award.html
Jules recently posted..Beautiful Blogs & A New Award!
I lost my fave stylist ever the same way. It’s been more than ten years and I still haven’t recovered.
AmyBlam recently posted..On the inside- I’m a bipolar gay man
Go Sunday! YAY for the internet. It’s good to have friends who excel in the research department. Now you can avoid looking like a member of the circus!
Old School/New School Mom recently posted..Crying in Front of Your Kids
Sunday – you win the “Reader of the Year” award and the “Super Sleuth” award! Wow! Next time I need help finding someone, I’m putting you on the case!
Why is it that husbands don’t realize the importance of a good stylist? No matter the cost. My hubs is in and out of the barber shop in 10mins..ugh.
Carrie with Children recently posted..My Precious Furniture
I wonder whether men understand the importance of hair to us, and therefore our beloved, trusted hair-stylist. I always tip extremely well esp. since I see mine maybe 4 times a year. I have been seeing her (and following her around) for over 10 years now. She KNOWS my hair better than I do. Congrats on the happy ending to this would-be tragedy! And when you see her, give her your contact number! :-)
I’m a slave to a good stylist – and even when living overseas, I’d wait months and months and months until I came back to the States to go to the only lady I trusted with my curly hair. The only one who KNEW how to cut my hair so I didn’t look like I had a pyramid on the top of my head. Who never let me walk out of the salon feeling beautiful …
… and after realizing I was her slave, I said f*ck it, and I got a Brazilian Blowout at another salon and never looked back. Curly hair be d*mned, I now have a straight ‘do and am loving the sassy!
Jill recently posted..Have You Had The Talk
I’ve been going to the same guy for over TEN YEARS. He’s the only person who has ever been able to style my fine hair so that I like the way it looks when I leave. So I totally feel you on this.
And Sunday, you are amazing. I think the two of you together would be capable of world domination. :-)
Glad that has a happy ending for you.
Could a man ever appreciate how traumatic this is?
Glad you found her!
That is incredible that Sunday found her! I am SO happy for you!
Lolli recently posted..Rain- Rain- Go Away!
Yay for your own personal PI! A good hairstylist is definitely worth fighting for!
Although, be warned… I had a stylist switch jobs and call me to tell me about the switch, something I was so grateful for, and of course I went with him. Fast forward a year or two later and I got subpoenaed to give a deposition in a lawsuit that his former employer filed against him for breaching his non-compete agreement!
Kristin recently posted..Things I Wish I Didnt Have to Google
So glad that someone tracked her down. Yayyy for the internet!
Kelly Deneen recently posted..Photostory Friday- Autumn Colors
Oh-Kay. So I know it’s been said, but Sunday ROCKS!! Seriously, that is SO cool!
And I hear you about the hair. I have someone who “gets” my hair after YEARS of tears. I so want to move away from here in a few years and then I think about leaving her… I may have to live here forever. If she ever leaves I will stalk her. I have naturally half-curly, kinda-frizzy hair that requires a special touch for a decent cut. (“half curly” = not curly enough to cutely wear curly, and not straight enough to wear straight without a ton of work. I opt for the ton of work.) I shudder at the thought of losing her.
Ally recently posted..10 Random Things
I actually read Sunday’s post before I read this one, and so I read your whole sad story knowing that there was a happy ending coming! Bloggy Friends: Orange Hair Rescuers.
dusty earth mother recently posted..Like the Jeffersons- Im Movin On Up
I understand about the orange hair issue ( I like to call it pumpkin). I had that happen once and the stylist corrected it; from that day forth each time I sit in the stylist’s chair I remind her that I do not want pumpkin colored hair:) SO far so good. Glad that you found her….a good stylist is truly worth their weight in gold!
ZippyChix recently posted..Zippy’s Top 10 List of Socially Awkward Moments
I’m glad she was able to track her down for you. Totally cool.
Lauralee Hensley recently posted..Granny Loves Gift Baskets and Little Ones Books- A Great Combination
Yay! I’m a sucker for happy endings, especially happy hair endings.
Mommyfriend Lori recently posted..Dove Movement For Self-Esteem
I firmly believe that hair is the one thing that keeps me going. I could give up makeup, alcohol, food…hair is essential though. I’d be pale, sober, and thin, but at least I’d have good hair. So, on that note, I’m glad everything worked out. There’s nothing more devastating that losing a stylist you love…trust me, I’ve been there! :)
Oh, no!
Kristy recently posted..And then I panicked
This happened to me. My hair stylist of eight years left the salon and sent me a letter from his new salon inviting me in with a discount. I made a mental note of the name and location but decided this was an opportunity to try someone cheaper and closer to home. Four horrible haircuts at various local salons later and I realized the error of my ways. Then I couldn’t remember the name of the salon of my old hairdresser but was certain it was on Christopher Street. I called every salon on that street with no luck. Then two years later (my hair was still suffering) it occurred to me that maybe the salon’s name had Christopher in it instead of having anything to do with the street. A couple calls later, I found it. My hair is incredibly thankful.
Ilanarose recently posted..Baby Profiling- All Boys Edition
It took me forever to find a hairdresser I liked and then she announced she was moving to Texas. I live in Jersey. That didn’t work for me!
So glad you will be able to make a happy reunion and get rid of the orange hair!
B recently posted..Oh Fall- How I love thee
Sunday is re-christened XtremeStalking. That is hard core dedication to your hair, Jill. I love your mop – I wish I had more pep to mine. I’ve not found my new Shareen now that we’ve moved….
I kinda like that new twitter name! @xtremestalking!
Sunday recently posted..Today Im talking about the girls- my rack- the twins- my BOOBS!
Oh my gosh! I am SO glad you found her! Laughing my head off about how you didn’t have room in your purse for an extra business card : ) I mean, they DO take a lot of space : )
Life with Kaishon recently posted..You have got to be kidding me
This is, like, the happiest story EVER. The internet is a beautiful, beautiful thing. Orange hair is not.
Jessica – This is Worthwhile recently posted..Learn this- A childs body and mind are his own- not anyone elses
What a happy ending to a potentially sad story. I know the feeling and would have done the same thing.
I’m so glad you got some help and found her!!! Cool ending to a story that could have been so sad!
Bethany recently posted..Conversations with Derek- Part I
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