Number 22

I am thankful for my hairdresser(s).  Or are they called stylists?  I'm not exactly sure, but you know, the people who cut and highlight my hair.  For the past several years, this person has been Randy.  There is actually a picture of him on here as he is the one who did the damage control when Kenzie cut her hair off a couple years ago. 

Randy is cool for several reasons.  He never steers me wrong in the hair and makeup department.  He is truly not afraid to tell me if my hair (or makeup) looks like a hot mess and is completely honest about what type hair will look best on my head.  Even if that means he's doing less to it and not getting as much money.

He also has a sweet little girl who is Kenzie's age and a really cool wife.  We all trick-or-treated together this year and had a big time.  And let's not forget that he used to do Billy Ray Cyrus' hair back in the mullet days.  Yes, for real. 

But Randy had an injury earlier this year, then some surgery, so he hasn't been at the salon.  And it's just him.  He's the only stylist.  At first, I feared this would be a catastrophic, devastating blow to my hair.  But then he had someone step in to replace him while he is out.  Her name is Robin and she is just amazing!  She and Randy have been friends (and often co-workers) for like 20 something years, and she's actually a lot like him. 

If I have a hair emergency, Robin (and Randy until recently) will gladly work me in.  And she did Mom's hair about a month ago and I swear it made her look 10 years younger.  We have good conversation too, which is important since I often spend a couple hours at the salon.

A good hair person that understands you and knows how to make you look like a million bucks is hard to find.  I love that Randy (and his family) and Robin are not just the people who do my hair- they are friends. Even though sometimes we argue over how much really needs to be cut (which usually ends with them saying something like, "okay, we can just take off a half inch.  Thin, ratty, cotton candy ends will probably look good on you."  Then I give in and walk out with healthier hair)  I trust them. 

Like that time Randy and I were "trying something new" and my hair turned orange?  I was only frightened for a millisecond because I knew he could fix it.  Then Erin walked into the salon right at that moment and I saw the fear in his eyes (clearly worried he now had an orange-headed wife) but Randy made a believer out of him too when I walked out an hour later with my regular blonde.

Yes, a good hair stylist is hard to find.  If Randy never comes back and Robin moves away or something, I'm SO going to be up a creek without a paddle.