Retrospective Lily

I recently got my hair cut and colored. As per usual (for the last couple years, anyway) I asked for blonde highlights on my naturally-brown hair with a layer of purple on the underside, styled as a wavy long bob.

All (or at least most) women agree that time spent at the salon is a wonderful respite from regular life. It feels good mentally and physically to get a trim/touch-up; my confidence is boosted and my ‘do feels refreshed, airy, healthy. (Plenty of women with Friedreich’s Ataxia sport long, flowing locks. Because one primary symptom of FA is bad coordination, I find short hair easier to manage. Plus, I think it suits me).

When you become friends with your stylist, the occasional appointments feel like lunch dates. You catch up (“so, how’s your mom doing?”) and have random, interesting discussions about books you’ve read, places you want to visit someday, the unattainable lives of celebrities, etc. But instead of pigging out on a cheesburger combo, your date paints your hair and decorates you with pieces of aluminum foil. Then, you get a scalp massage as you lie back with your head under a faucet of warm water. Ahhh.

The day beforehand, I went to a different salon to get my fingernails and toenails trimmed and polished. When I sat in the massage chair to soak my feet in warm water, I breathed the same involuntary sigh of relief. Ahhh. I tend to run cold, due to poor circulation caused by FA, worsened by being a wheelchair user (not much blood flow; fortunately, I go out a lot and ride my exercise bike often).

I love having cute nails (for October, I got black with iridescent sparkles). But believe it or not, those appointments have practical benefits, not just cosmetic. Firstly, my natural nails have always been brittle. The fake ones, long and strong, act as tiny tools on my fingertips that enable me to open envelopes and pick up small objects like coins. Secondly, I am one of those lucky people who gets frequent ingrown toenails – used to, anyway. It is well worth some routine maintenance to keep them at bay.

The ladies at the nail salon are sweet, but I’m often too busy concentrating to carry on conversation. Jeez, that hurts, but it’s a necessary evil…Hold your leg steady…Must…not…kick…her…

Oh, and because these are considerations everywhere I go – both salons have a ground-level entryway, and they both have grab bars in the bathroom. Yay, I feel welcome here!

I know it is a privilege and a blessing to be pampered, and I am eternally grateful. If I have to sit down 24/7, at least I get to look pretty while doing it!