I’ll start by admitting two things: Yes it was shit sore and yes I took my own comb and F.Y.I I don’t feel bad about admitting to either of the two.
Last Saturday The Husband, Mini Male and I took a trip to Bellville Station to get my hair braided. I had heard at a school party that I didn’t need to venture all the way into the city centre to have braids done, I could simply make my way to the station and find someone who would do my hair. The Government Shufflers friend’s mom also gave me some other valuable info in case I was taken advantage of because clearly the people doing my hair would know it was my first time. So I found out the price for braids was about R120 and if they used artificial hair, it was R10 a strand… so with this info I made my way to the station.
The Husband came with me because he felt I need “protection” – from what I don’t know – killer combs perhaps? Maybe a wayward strand of possessed fake hair would suddenly wrap itself around my neck and he would gallantly save me from sure strangulation??
We had barely parked our car and crossed the road when we saw all the little makeshift salons standing proudly if what unsteadily on the pavement. As soon as I crossed the road… I entered the competitive world of the “pavement braiding business”. I was immediately approached by a lady who asked me “You want braids baby?” and a substantial catalogue was shoved under my nose. Let me just mention there are many many ways to braid hair and these ladies can do whatever you want with any type of hair under the sun!
The colourful world of pavement salons!
So I explained that I did and described what I wanted. When I asked the price, it was somewhat higher than my “contact” had advised me, but I just said OK (so much for the new assertive me!) . Then The Husband (Financial Advisor/Bodyguard) said that that’s not the price we heard and we’d go some where else – needless to say, the braids were done for R120!
So I sat down on my plastic garden chair (no fancy movable salon chair here) and took in my surroundings. I was one of 5 ladies having my hair done and we, along with our stylists (one with a baby on her back - even informal traders have "bring your child to work day") managed to fit into a little tent-like structure roughly 5m x 2m.
A happy mix of Customers and Stylists!
The Salon is run by 2 very talented French speaking “sistas” (who also happen to be sisters) from the DRC. (Well I’m just guessing the DRC… I didn’t get to talk to them much, I was much too busy trying to find my happy place during all the hair pulling and plaiting.)
aaaaah... happy place found!
What I did learn from the experience though is that I missed my calling. I should have been a spy – because if I could survive the braiding process without uttering so much as an ouch, I would be able to survive any given method of torture if I was ever captured by the enemy. Finger nails being pulled by pliers – piece of cake. Eyelids being cut off with blunt scissors – no problem. Toes being cut off one by one ... bring it on! Having my hair braided made me realize that my tolerance for pain is very very very (very) high!
Smiling on the outside... screaming on the inside!
The camaraderie at the salon is very infectious. Customers and Stylists alike call out to passing people to come in and their hair braided.. if I was able to come out of my happy place I too would have been shouting "Braids Baby" along with the rest of them!
For just over an hour I was part of this happy braiding salon, where everyone helps each other out. If someone goes to the shop, all the other customers hand over money so that one person can bring back cold-drinks, snacks etc! The lady next to me had to hold her own strands of artificial hair and pass them on to the stylist when she needed them. I also had to contribute to my style and at the end was found holding my beads and elastics... at that stage I would have done anything to get the process over and done with, so I didn't mind!
Assisting the stylist...
While the braiding itself was painful (to say the least)... the end result is awesome and sooooo easy to maintain! No more brushing, ponies, hairbands, knots etc! love it! But there has been one down side......
Like Samson, I think my writing mojo is in my hair. And with it all so tightly braided up and constricted, I'm finding it very difficult to "write" ! So posts for the next few weeks may be infrequent and lack lustre.
However, at least now I can cross a letter off my ABC list.... B is now done and dusted! Bring on the next 25 letters because fulfilling them will never be as painful as fulfilling the first!
