By Stacy Clement
Last Thursday, after working 100 plus hours in nine days, I decided to give myself a pampering. A pampering like I had never known. A manicure (I wear my own nails fairly long), a pedicure (I always have my toenails painted), and a new hair cut (I have to satisfy a male world as well as a female one). After having made the appointments with both the beauty shop and the nail salon (it's a good idea to make a nail appointment when getting both a pedicure and a manicure so they can work on both ends at once), I took a long bath and shaved my legs and all. I combed my neck-length hair as best I could knowing that it would be temporary as I waited for the beautician's magic.
Dressed in a casual pants and top outfit, earrings and light makeup, I entered the nail salon. It is important, I have learned from my wife, to wear slip on shoes, preferably sandals when getting a pedicure so as to not smudge the newly applied polish. I did just that.
I was greeted and led to a station where I was fretted over for the next forty-five minutes. My fingertips were soaked (yep, just like Madge in the famous dish soap commercial) and I received a warm foot bath, complete with 'good vibrations!' The young woman doing my fingernails commented that I had long nails and wondered how short she should cut them. "Not at all," was my reply. I asked her to just even them out a little without sacrificing much length. She happily complied. She suggested buffing my nails, saying that would strengthen them, give them a gloss but not a shine, and would last longer than polish. I allowed that was a good idea, and off she went.
Meanwhile another lady began to work on my feet. She used pumice stone and smoothed the heels and a nasty bunion and then went to work trimming and removing the cuticles and all that. Both feet complete, she massaged lotion into them, commenting through her associate (the pedicure gal spoke very little English), that my feet were very soft. Yes, thank you, I try to keep my feet as smooth as possible.
All went well until the pedicurist asked her friend if I wanted clear polish on my toenails. Without hesitation, I suggested a dark red and with only a bit of quizzical look in their eyes and a little giggle in their voice, she proceeded to paint my nails the burgundy I had requested. My feet and hands now had been massaged, nails buffed and my toes glistened brightly. I felt so relaxed, feminine and pretty, I was ready for the new hairdo. I walked next door after slipping my sandals on gently as to not smudge the polish and found I was a bit early for my appointment. Luckily for me, and them too I assume, the beauty supply also has a little boutique and so I shopped a bit while I waited for my hair appointment. They were having a "Black Sale" (everything black was 25% off) but alas, perhaps because I was in anything but a black mood, I could not find anything but bright colors, so I didn't buy anything. (I will go back next month when the have a different color on sale, however!)
I was finally ushered to my chair and chatted with the beautician about what I wanted. I was up front with her and explained that I wanted my hair to be left as long as possible while being aware of a thinning problem on top. She asked how I wanted to style it, and I told her that sometimes I had to present as a man, but that, as a TS, I now wanted to use my own hair more and more and so I wanted to be able to style it decidedly feminine. Again, I got no reaction, merely a nod of understanding and away we went.
My hair moved through her hands as she lathered and massaged and I melted into the seat. Then she sprayed my head with cold water (do they do that to wake us up?) and we walked to her station and she began. Half an hour later, she was finished and asked if I wanted it blown dry. I said that I would like to see how she would do it, so she styled it for me. I must say that the secrets for making thin hair look thicker she taught me have even worked at home and I love my new 'do.' I paid her, thanked her, and promised to come back next time.
I felt and looked great; nails, hair and all. What more could a girl ask for. And the real treat is that I got it all for less than fifty dollars (though if I had found something at the boutique it would have been more, for sure)! If you live in or near a large city I highly recommend the adventure. It was relaxing and exhilarating at the same time. It was worth the money and the nerves that I wrecked in anticipation. You can bet that I'll do it again.
...next time, an adventure with drag makeup artist, Jim Bridges!