I'm sure you can imagine my surprise when I couldn't find the salon and the receptionist who I had to call for more clear directions tole me in her thick brooklyn-smoker accent, "it's across from the CVS...next to the Kwik Stop." Next to the Kwik Stop? Who puts a salon next to the Kwik Stop? However, I found the Kwik Stop...and the salon...and was quickly buzzed in through the intercom...apparently the salon had to put up security measures so frequenters of the Kwik Stop couldn't just wander in. Eileen, with her Brooklyn crackle was very nice and directed me to a seat next to a pile of magazines to wait for Gino. I was slightly surprised to see a hair magazine with Debra Messing circa Will and Grace years along with Juliana Margulies circa ER years on the cover...until I realized that the most updated magazine in the building was from 2002, hmmm....
Still none of this fazed me...until Gino walked in. He was about sixty with a thick Italian accent, a floral print shirt, balding head, thick glasses, and a gold chain. He definitely did not have cool tattoos...or a boyfriend at home...and he was ready to cut my hair. Now most of you might think that I, being a true Dominican would make an excuse to forgo the haircut. See Dominican's are notorious for being picky about their beauty treatments. Most of my aunts (and don't get me started on my mom) get a weekly blow-dry, monthly cut and color, facial, mani-pedi, eyebrows, and additional necessary waxing whenever needed. However, also being a true Dutch girl (yes, by marriage...but that counts too) I wasn't about to pass up on a free haircut...so, I followed Gino, potbelly, gold-chains, and all into the salon chair.
Ok, so Gino, despite his appearance, was a true hair genius. I mean he did go on and on about how great it was to cut hair in the 70s when the big Farrah Fawcett waves, and dainty Dorothy Hamill bob were popular, but overall, he laughed frequently, shared details with me about his wife and 5 kids, and even did a great scissor technique that he learned in New York back when the shag-cut was at the height of fashion. Overall it was a great experience, Eileen only had to shoo away one Kwik Stop customer who was hanging around the front door, and I actually found a People magazine from 2007 back by the shampoo sink. Most of all, I left feeling great...I mean really, where else can you get a haircut and beef jerky all in the same parking lot...and the good news? I still have a $12.00 credit on my spafinder card...maybe next week I'll get my eyebrows done...
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