January 18: Lady Jane's

Let's face it, how you look in society is the first impression people take away of you. It's sad, given there's so much more to every person than what you see on the outside, but it's also true. And, your hair, hairstyle, plays an important role in how you look day-to-day. Just ask the teen-age Scott from years ago who would have fits every morning before school because his hair wouldn't do what he wanted it to do; drove my folks crazy, I'm sure. Then, for a time, in an effort to ensure my hair was at its best, I religiously followed a Stylist named Michael David from salon to salon, as he knew exactly how I wanted my hair and he delivered on such with perfection every time (if you're near Birmingham and want a great haircut, check out Bitonti and see if he still works there). Luckily, I've outgrown those needs as I've grown older and other, more important, concerns have taken the place of such trivial ones. But, nonetheless, I still enjoy a good haircut; and, unfortunately, when I began working from home the trip to see Michael in Birmingham became too much of a task. For a short time after that, I went to Lynn Gordon Salon in Troy. Another great haircut by Grace (who also does my wife and daughter's hair - we highly recommend her!), but again, too long a trip to take during a work day. As a result, I've recently had to kick around locally trying different hair salons to find the right fit - Great Clips, Grondins, etc. My latest endeavor was Lady Jane's Haircuts for Men. Okay, before you go judging me for being "just like a guy", my intentions were nothing more than to see if I could get a decent haircut. That, and I was also a little curious about all of the "stuff" I heard they do to cater specifically to their male audience. So, after some ribbing from my wife, I gave it a whirl. Upon entering the establishment, the theme they try to get across was widely evident. Their waiting area featured half-a-dozen or so recliners which sat before 4 large-screened TVs playing various sports channels. The decor is all sports-themed, focusing primarily on the local professional teams - Red Wings, Pistons, Tigers and Lions. And, the Stylists...well, let's just say none of them were male and most of them appeared to be dressed for the bar rather than for work. I think my wife described it best as I was sharing my experience with her...."it's like Hooters for hair". While I waited, for 30 long minutes by the way, I tried to figure out the appeal. Don't get me wrong, I understand the attractive women and their attire, but, maybe I'm, God forbid, just too old for that kind of thing anymore, especially when I just want my hair done. My Stylist was nice enough, appropriately dressed for hair styling, and she did give a good haircut; but even then I easily caught on to her flirtatious behavior that was obviously aimed at getting me to invest in her product recommendations. Twenty years ago, I probably would have fallen for it, but not anymore. It was most obvious after she sensually massaged my scalp while explaining that the conditioner she was using contained peppermint oil which is a natural stimulant; following it up with a "how did that make you feel?" as we returned to her station. I'm still not sure what she was trying to stimulate through that process, but I steered way clear of asking. In the end, I did get a decent haircut, but at a $16 price tag plus tip; about $6 more than I usually dish out at some of the aforementioned places. It was definitely a new experience, however, I likely will not be returning. Nothing against the LJ crew, it's just that at this point in my life, I'll easily trade all of those male-directed accommodations for the extra 30 minutes back in my life and an extra $6 in my pocket. Call me stingy, but I've got better things to do with my time and money.