The JMS Salon Party turned out to be an unexpectedly fun adventure! Sometime in December my friend Natalie and I went to what I thought was an information meeting about being a hair model. It turned out that it was actually more like an audition. I had arrived in my jeans and some tennis shoes, with no make-up and “bum around” clothing on. Hardly ready to audition to be a model. When I found out I had to walk the catwalk, I quickly put a dusting of make up on and tousled my hair as best I could. I also took off my shoes, opting to walk the catwalk barefoot.
Compared to the rest of the hopefuls I looked wholesome, fresh and innocent, if a little plain, so I knew I had to somehow stand out to get chosen to be a “model”. I was 7th and when it came for my turn to strut down the middle of the salon, I took a deep breath and started to channel my S Factor self. I swished my hips, let my hands play over my hips and belly and just before I did my little model turn in the center, I smacked my ass. The woman in charge laughed delightedly, clapped and let out a big “whoop”. I then swished the rest of the way, posed for a picture and then disappeared behind the salon mirrors.
After Natalie and I had been selected to be part of the show, the stylists began asking what they could and could not do to my hair. My stylist said, “You have such a cute face, but you’re all covered up with the hair style you have now…” What I heard was, “I think we should cut all your hair off ~ perhaps a pixie…” So I said, “Well, thank you. I have to keep some length, but you can do whatever you want to the color.”

And you saw what I ended up with. The first night of my new hair I was a little shocked. Then, as Friday rolled around, I started to really like it. Saturday arrived and I went to the salon for my hair touch-up and to prep for the show. My stylist met me and said she had to put some more color in my hair because it wasn’t “funky enough”. Ok. SO another chunk of my hair was colored a reddish, copper color.

The day was spent under a blowdryer, pressed between a flat iron, sitting in the make-up chair and dressing in my, oh so revealing, outfit.

The moment had arrived. We all stood behind the wall with our funky hairstyles, wearing our deconstructed designs and the music began. The energy in the salon was intense and it was crowded with people. There were so many people we had to push through the crowd to make it to the top of the “runway”. As soon as I stepped out onto the walk I was charged with excitement. I heard my friends screaming for me at the side. There was Sujata and Alycia and Hilary and Cami! And on the other side was my Mom and my Dad snapping pictures. I pranced down the aisle and posed for the flashing lightbulbs. I worked it. And because I happened to catch my friend Sujata’s eye on my out, I once again smacked my ass.

After we all strutted back out for the finale we hearded our way out of the salon and back into the greenroom. We were all alive with the response from the crowd and embraced one another before returning to the party…for some drinks and dancing.

And now, as promised, here are the pictures from the show…
(some taken by my camera, some by my Dad’s ~ thanks!)

Natalie getting her Afro…

Me getting make-up…

Me and Natalie waiting patiently in our costumes…

Me posing during the finale…

And here I am with my Dad during the after party…

And these are my lovely S Factor friends, who cheered me on…

(that’s Cami, Alycia, Sujata, me & Hilary)

And, of course, Beth, our stylist…

Now, it’s been over a week since the show and I am more than ready to return to my old hair color. I am currently waiting for my hair appointment to start to re-lighten my hair. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks, these little bangs will grow longer and my hair will be at least 2 shades lighter. I’m going to go back to blonde slowly so my hair stays healthy.

It was fun to have this harder-edged, punky look for a few days, but really, I’m a blonde. I like having blonde hair better. After all, we all hear that blondes have more fun ~ and I’m beginning to believe it!

(smile)