I'm getting my hair cut today for the first time in almost six months. That's what happens when you move to a new place. After eight years in Oakland, I finally knew where to get good pizza, where to take my drycleaning, get my haircut, get my nails done, etc. Here in Boston I'm starting fresh, and on a student's budget. I've started using Dryel at home, I don't get my nails done anymore, and I avoided getting my hair cut altogether. But now it's halfway down my back and the split ends are creeping higher and higher. So I've been asking around. A lot of references for people and places along Newbury Street, which is pretty much out of the question. But earlier this week I got a reference for a guy named Joe in a placed called Hair Adventure in Boston's Chinatown. Sounds a little sketchy, but this gal swears it's an unbeatable deal. I'm big on the wash and dry being included in the price and apparently they not only wash your hair before they cut, but after, too. Sounds like quite the adventure, no? I'll let you know how it all works out...
Otherwise, I've been spending most of my time off working toward finally feeling settled here in Boston - unpacking the until now ignored box shoved in a corner here and there, re-organizing closets that were hastily stuffed in the two weeks we had before the fall semester began, etc. Some folks have been giving me a hard time about not getting out and seeing Boston. Somebody actually asked if we'd been to Cape Cod or Martha's Vineyard yet. Hello??...We're busy! I don't mean to get defensive, but what do people think we've been doing here in Boston over the last five months? In other words, we didn't move here for the weather, if you know what I mean. Summer will be a better time to explore - time off from school and better weather. 
But I agree that I need to get out a little more. Even if it's just one little outing each weekend or day off. On that note, Neal and I discovered yet another best kept secret right here in Dorchester - the Pope John Paul II Park that stretches from Dorchester Bay inland along the Neponset River. We made our first attempt on Tuesday, getting there a good half-hour before sunset. The park is supposed to be open from dawn 'til dusk. The definition of exactly when that occurs is apparently up to the discretion of the park ranger, who reported he was closing the gates about two minutes into our walk. So we went back yesterday and walked about half the park. Here's a shot of Neal à la magic hour on the first day. You can see more pics from the much cloudier second attempt on Flickr.
After my hair adventure today it's back to work for most of the weekend. On Sunday, Neal and I are taking the Chinatown bus to NY and back to see a good friend in town from L.A. After catching up, we might try to squeeze in a visit to MoMA to see the Odilon Redon and Pixar exhibitions, which will be closed when we hope to return in late March. I'm having issues with the whole commercial gallery/museum scene (that's another blog entry altogether) but the fact that I can actually make it to the Whitney Biennial this year without too much hassle is still pretty thrilling.
1.12.2006
hair adventure
Posted by Becky G. at 1/12/2006 07:58:00 AM
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5 comments:
Hi Becca, It's Megan from school. I just wanted to say "hi" in honor of the recent de-lurking day.
Second of all, you should post some pics of your new haircut!
I'll see you around.
Megan, welcome and thanks for the comment! I like to stay somewhat anonymous for the folks who don't know me (but know my blog), but I'll consider taking some pics of my new 'do and posting them here. Maybe shots from behind so you can't see my face...
I hear you on the struggle to find those basic services in a new place. It took me several weeks to realize there was actually a dry cleaners not two blocks from our house (not that I use it very often, but still, you want to know where one is). I also finally unpacked a few more lingering boxes the other day and discovered some stuff I assumed must have gotten lost in the move. Who needs shopping when you can just unpack forgotten things from boxes?
As the author of this blog, I have to add an updated comment since I get so many visitors to this post searching for Hair Adventure in Boston. I've been there probably about a half-dozen times in the past couple of years, my regular visits interrupted by nearly a year at Liquid in the South End. If I had only those two salons to choose from, I'd choose Hair Adventure, but I have to say that I've been disappointed with them lately. For starters, the hair washing and head massage is downright painful. They scratch your scalp over and over again, which feels good for about 5 seconds. And I should admit I'm particularly sensitive to the neck and shoulder massage, finding it hard to relax holding my head up in the way they always have you at that point, but even so, I've had better.
They usually do a decent job on the cut part, but you're damned if you do, damned if you don't on this one. If you want even the slightest variation on your previous cut, giving too many instructions will end in confusion (there's definitely a language barrier if you speak only English). On the other hand, this last time I went, I expressed the utmost satisfaction with my previous cut and asked only for a trim, explaining that I really liked the length of the various layers mostly as is. The problem is that they whisk you away to wash your hair before the person ultimately cutting it has gotten a good look; as opposed to pretty much every other salon I've ever been to in my 30 years, where the stylist messes with your dry hair as is before sending you off to the wash basin. Clearly, the guy cutting my hair couldn't really remember what he'd done last time, so I ended up with shorter layers than I wanted and thicker, chunkier bangs that, despite being composed of more hair, were still too long, hanging in my eyes.
Their price is decent - $32 for a cut - but even so, I shouldn't have to pay that amount and come home and do some clean-up myself. I could do that for free. Needless to say, the search for a competent stylist who can actually do what I ask, is on, yet again.
sweetie: I agree with RBG... i just got my new haircut there 2 weeks ago.. i was really disappointed at the layers they did to my hair. i have wavy, poofy hair so i asked if they can do the simple layer enough to thin out the volume but not too shaggy. it first looked good after being straightened by the flat iron. then after i washed my hair at home, it became a disaster b/c the cut was too shaggy and doesn't look like nice layers. their layers look to funky and although they did not use razor on my hair, it came out looking like being razored through. i attempted to fix it myself too but got too nervous. then a coworker of mine suggested a local Brazilian barbershop where the haircut was just 10-20 bucks. i gave it a try (seeing that my coworker's new laywered hair looks better than mine). the outcome was perfect. my hair now has smooth ends and nice healthy looking layers. hair adventure used to have good cuts but i have no idea what happened to them.. seems like they change the way they cut hair.. i dun think i'll be going there again for a haircut.. i've found my Brazilian place. i'm asian and i thought my hair is better handled by an asian stylist.. but i gotta admit it's worth it to try something different.
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