Cheval ou Cheveux??

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This is my hair on a pretty good day.  What I like to think of messy country and western singer look.  (Leave me to my humble hair delusions please.) I have maybe a couple silvery sort of coloured hairs but no grey; strip away those professionally done highlights and I am topped with a non-descript mousy brown.  And who wants to be non-descript or mousy anything??  Pre the hormonal change of pregnancy I had my original very blond but I have been boosting it now for almost 30 years.  I do not in any way shape or form consider my hair my crowning glory.  It kind of is what it is.  

For years and years I wore it shorter, not little boy short but down around my ears (you’ll see photos over time- hahahaha, a hook to keep you with me.  As if the promise of future hair photos would keep anyone engaged.  Note to self to try to keep my posts interesting.  She says as she rambles on in the pre-dawn French darkness about hair…..).  The shorter version actually allows curls to pop which I love- wash and apply a little product and go, wet haired into the world.  But since I began this nomadic life I have been letting my hair grow.  You will NEVER see pics of me with it down.  It isn’t luscious and thick and bouncy enough for that; even if I subject myself to a headful of velcro rollers for a time my hair emerges bouncy but not in a face enhancing way.  Besides, my ‘I got it from my mama’ small face can’t carry long hair in a flattering fashion.  But keeping it longer means I don’t have to take a chance on a stylist getting the cut ‘wrong’ leaving me with something I don’t like and potentially too short to correct.  And as far as the  highlights go, until now I have timed their refresh so they landed before and after my trip to France, going back to Canada to one of the two stylists who really know my hair, what colour to use on me, how long to leave it on etc etc.  But this time it’s different; when I leave here in 2 weeks I am not Canada bound so for the first time have made an appointment for highlights (and a cut) here in Montreuil Bellay for later today. 

I made this rendez-vous all by myself which in itself is no small feat.  I even had to go back as once again this 24 hour time thing, in French, left me questioning if I had the time right.   It’s at 4pm, in my language, but seize heures, 16:00 in French.  It’s a salon I have never been to before with a stylist who I am left to believe after two interactions, speaks absolutely no English.  And I meant to practice all week things like:  I want the colour to be warm; it will take the colour quickly (please lord, do not let me leave with a head full of white!); I just need a little taken off; I like my bangs to be short and most important, that I remember the word for horse is cheval and hair is cheveux so that I don’t reference getting my horse cut.  That will not be a good way to start the appointment.  Maybe I can squeeze some time in to today to look up the phrases and practice them.  Regardless when I am there it will be: “Breathe Michelle, pause and think before you start talking.  She already knows French is  your second language so take your time.”  In reality what will likely come out is one big barrage of something like French, in a very inaccurate accent, accompanied by much hand gesturing on my part.  Stay tuned for the update and for all of you feeling my hair anxiety pain, please send a little good luck/bonne chance vibes my way.  I hope we at no point find ourselves looking for a horse that needs cutting.  🙂

One last before I pop off- I launched myself into this virtual world of blogging one week tonight.  I still can’t believe I have a website let alone people who want to read what I write.   Thank you everyone who has read, commented, shared my blog; with much gratitude and wonder I have appreciated the support. It’s been a week of learning and daily calls to the help desk to figure out something new.  Yesterday it was how to add subscribers; if you go to the contact page on my blog you will see a place to put in your email address.  I would appreciate if you would do this.  Some day I may want to do a newsletter or a contest or something unique (I don’t know what I don’t know) and will use this list to generate my email list. 

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope you have fun weekend plans.  xo

 

38 thoughts on “Cheval ou Cheveux??”

  3. Lana

    How did it go? We need to see a photo of how stunning the horse is… oppps I mean your hair. Xoxo beautiful lady, they cannot go wrong. Xo

    1. Wendy Lovett

      I’m excited to see your new do! I believe it’s sometimes good to try a new hair stylist. I think you will look “chaude” 😊

  4. Joan Bagnell

    Hi Michelle. I put my email address in the first time I commented. Is that good enough or is there another spot?

    Good luck with the hair cut. I can well imagine how awkward that will feel not to be able to easily tell her what you want. If you really like the cut/colour maybe get her to take a couple of photos (front and back) so you can show them next time. I sometimes do that as every cut can be a bit different.

    1. Michelle

      Yes, good idea too to write down what colour she uses and for how long. That’s what my Cdn stylists do!

      Please put your name in the space for followers on the contact page. Thank you so much!!

      1. Anna

        Great blog Michelle! I look forward to reading it every day! Drinking my morning coffee whilst listening to James Taylor and our first “snow event” here in Kentville. Can’t wait to see your hair!

        1. Michelle

          Snow events I don’t miss Anna! I mean, there can be a certain coziness to them if you can stay inside but having to shovel, clean off the car, try to see around snowbanks, wear multiple layers….. I’d be quite happy to miss out on those forever and ever amen. 🙂

  6. Donna Hopper

    Good luck with your hair at seize heures! Let me know how it went. Another in France…getting your hair done with limited French.

  7. Joanne Jackson

    I was laughing so hard I had tears of joy. Can’t wait to see the results Waking up to your blog adds a “ bouncy step “ to my day.

      1. Brenda MacKinnon

        Good luck with the hair appt! I can only imagine what the conversation will be like😂 by looking at your hair now, she should have a good sense of what you’re looking for. Take in a few pics on your phone to show her, of you, and of the Color you like..

  9. Sandra Todd

    Well Michelle I had a big smile on my face while reading the blog today, who would have “thunk” someone could actually write three paragraphs about their hair and make it interesting. Once again you captured your followers. Here’s wishing you a good hair day, personally I like the wild look it suits you this days. Take care my friend.

  10. Gail Sloane

    I recall the kindness in the salon for my abysmal French the day of the wedding and the stylist insisting I have bangs. I continue to have them these months later despite my Canadian stylist not a fan in the beginning. I understand the anxiety but sometimes when in France ….. keep us posted!

  11. Carolyn Duggan

    Good luck with the hair cut!
    Watch out for those horse hairs- I see my French speaking teacher daughter has shared how common a mistake it is to make🤪

    Keep these writings coming

    1. Michelle

      Yes Kimberley was so sweet and kind to share that it is a common mistake for “new” french speakers! And I am happy to say the horse was untouched in today’s appointment!

  12. Kayla

    It is very poignant that I am lounging at Blonde Inc., head full of blonde foils, hot cup of coffee and enjoying your blog this morning about your hair 😊😆

    ❤️ Kayla

  13. Bobbi Schmidt

    As I think I’ve mentioned in the past, I love your messy country and western singer look! Very cool. Perfect for you. . Since you are planning to keep it “longish” and continue to keep your hair up, seems like your risk is limited, even if there are some translation issues with the new hairdresser and she doesn’t do it exactly like you are used to (I still shudder thinking about a VERY short haircut I got in my early 20s at a dumpy looking hair salon in a small town in Israel. I knew it was a mistake the moment the hairdresser took the first cut. Ugh). But nevertheless, I understand your anxiety. Never fun to go to a new hairdresser for the first time. But if you are going to do it, where better than in France!

    1. Michelle

      Oh Bobbi, I really do struggle with not being a just go anywhere and get it done person when it comes to hair! And you’re right; wearing it long does give me some wiggle room if it’s not quite the way I like it. The colour is another story….. 🙂

      Thanks for sharing your shuddering experience. I can so relate!

  14. LInda Forster

    A good way to remember cheveux… at UNB lived beside a girl from Edmunston and would say she was going to wash her hairs… it is hair i said and she asked why,
    because there is more than one hair on your head. So knowing that eux is a plural… good way to remember (well it was for me 🙂 ) lol

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