the models waiting for the experts
If I tell you that H had to change his itinerary just so he could accompany me to my rendezvous with Wella in Paris, would you believe it? Well, having said that, I wonder if his purpose in doing so had to do with his long time desire to turn me into, kind of, a chic Parisian. But anyway, he probably just wanted to encourage me to go ahead with this crazy idea as I was already debating earlier - shall I go, shall I go not…hmmm, who do you think is more excited here?
Anyhow, I read an article in Parisinfo.com about this “free coiffure and make-up” so I went to their office in rue Cambon to arrange for an appointment. Their HQ is just at the back of the Ritz Hotel, exactly the spot where Princess Diana and Dodie Al Fayed boarded their ill-fated Mercedes car just to get away from the hounding Paparazzi.
Ritz Hotel…..Place Vendome… hmmm… I haven’t told you about the incredible chicness of that area but that’s another story.
I was given a rendezvous two weeks from the date of my visit so that means Iwill have to take a special flight just to get a free coiffure! Isn’t that crazy? And to be honest, my guess at that time was: I will be turned into a guinea pig by trainee-hairdressers who just came out of lycée (high school).
Came the appointment date and there I discovered that I was not the lone sacrificial lamb. There were 11 other ladies of varying ages, from 17 to 65. Some were housewives, some were career women, some were already chic looking, some were not.
Then the “students” arrived. Throngs of them! But contrary to what I had suspected, they were seasoned hairdressers - men and women, and take note, the men were really acting like, errr.. men!
They go to Wella for their regular developmental training, similar to doctors and accountants who go to their annual conferences to learn the latest advances of their profession.
They distributed themselves around the models, which I assume, in accordance to the number of the raffle ticket they have picked up earlier which also corresponds to the model’s number. I was “Number 1″ and was approached by two matured lady hairdressers whom I found extremely nice! We had instant rapport right from the first minute!
From 10am to 4pm, the total period of the relooking session, they spent nearly two arduous hours analysing my looks, my behaviour, my family background and my interests in life. I told them about my travel site and mypassion for photography. I was like a patient sitting there getting scrutinized and dissected by a couple of surgeons (I swear!) but then, I was kind of enjoying all these interview and close-up examination, in fact, looking back, I realize I have fully entrusted my whole life into their hands that moment! That whatever happened to me, to my scalp, I was just there, willing to take the risk!
Then came the moment of ‘no-turning-back’: the hair chopping, the coloring, the highlights, the styling! I was secretly observing the lady doing me up and it reminded me of that flamenco dancer in Granada, Spain where I was almost bursting in tears just by looking at her facial expression! This lady, the hairdresser, was twitching the ends of her mouth at every movement of the comb in such an agonizing fashion!
By 4pm, I could hardly recognize myself. I have never sported such short hair for a long time but I love it!
Even the make up! Now I realize how Parisian women are masters of the art, letting their true assets shine and the imperfections subtly concealed, all without the slightest hint of colors in their faces.
I retorted to my surgeon-hairdresser, “It’s like there’s no make up at all!” But I could very well see the difference!
H, upon seeing me that evening, was mesmerized! He couldn’t believe the change in me that we had to go out and celebrate my new look!
Note: I was actually mistaken for a Japanese by the proprietor of the restaurant we went to that evening!
The Before and After discussion.
The hairdressers had to explain to the instructors the changes they did to the models. This is where the feeling of being a celebrity befell me! While they were explaining the work they did on me, some ladies were clicking their cameras!
For this Taiwanese student of architecture who lives in Paris, it’s her second time to model at Wella.
Hmmm, I think I’ll pass up with that style, but it’s cute on her!
Wella Studio Paris
43, rue Cambon
Metro: Concorde
Free coiffure, regardless of age. Registration every thursday from 9am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5pm. Bring an ID photo.
