Go Shorty, Bob's Your Uncle

Image via myhairstylingtools.com

This just landed in my mailbox, from the wonderful people at Bumble and Bumble: 

"We would like to inform you about a special opportunity to receive a free Razor Bob with Bb.U Model Project. For those who have never attended a Model Call, this is the perfect time to get a fun and flirty new look. For our existing clients, this is a unique opportunity to change your current style.

We hope that you will join us for an exclusive Model Call event on Monday, March 23rd from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm on the 6th floor of the House of Bumble. You will receive a consultation with a Bb. educator to ensure that your hair is appropriate for a Razor Bob or a different featured style, if more suitable. 

If you me the requirements for a Razor Bob, you will receive an appointment for an upcoming session.

...Please RSVP as soon as possible to: freebobs@bumbleandbumble.com

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Bb. U Model Project

415 W. 13th Street, 6th Floor

New York, NY 10014

866.7BUMBLE / 866.728.6253"

Mane Squeeze

Image via squidoo.com.

Oh God Jesus. Even after my oh-so-sad Super Cuts sampling (result: meh), my hair is still in full force suckage. It needs a cut. It needs highlights. It needs...more than I can possibly afford to give it right now. 

Luckily, my friends over at recessionwire.com have rounded up some places where you can go to tame your locks on a budget: 

"What: 

Wash/cut/blow-dry: $8 (add $5 for longer locks)

Deep conditioning treatment: $7

Where: 

Empire Beauty School: 22 West 34th Street

Student Salon: 1-888-898-8903

More deals we've heard about but haven't tried:

What:

Free cut/color/styling if your locks are suitable for open model call.

Where: 

Bumble and Bumble Model Project

415 W. 13th St, New York, NY

Fill out pre-evaluation form on the website.

What: 

Free haircuts by student stylists on Tuesdays, 9am-noon.

Where: 

Rumor Salon

15 E. 12th St., 2nd Floor; 212-414-0195"

I've also heard tell that you can get a cut and color done by a trainee for about $60 at the Aveda Institute, though getting an appointment there is about as easy as gaining entrance to the Lincoln bedroom. Still, it's worth a shot: 212. 807. 1492. Make sure you are clear that you want a student cut, and make sure you set aside plenty of time for the appointment, citysearch.com seems to indicate that things there are slow going. 

Now, if you'll excuse me: I'm off to find myself some sort of hairnet/hat situation. 

Blow Me

Image via nytimes.com

For those interested, Oscar Blandi is teaching classes on how to blow dry your hair... for $250. Read the NYT article here. Read the Jezebel take down of the article/premise here, which pretty much sums up my thoughts on the matter. 

Thread Bare

Image via Superstock.com

In these tight times, it's been hard for me to justify certain grooming expenditures. My hair, for example, has gone from sunny blonde to sandy blonde to sorta blonde to scarcely blonde to seemingly brown on account of the fact that I simply cannot stomach paying $300 for highlights. Other things have gone by the wayside, too. Manicures and pedicures were never high on my list; now, they're off it. I went to Supercuts the other day for a quick trim, and while I didn't come out of there looking like the Bride of Frankenstein, I also am not sure that what happened was worth $20--how someone can do a mediocre job cutting an inch off stick-straight hair is beyond me. Next time, I'm going to let my boyfriend do it. Really.

And then there are my eyebrows. Un-groomed, they are like two caterpillars embarking on a dangerous game of chicken. Groomed, they often seem off kilter and misshapen. I've never been able to pluck them on my own, and I am always frustrated when I pay someone and get not-so-great results. It's enough to make a girl want to rip her (eyebrow) hair out. 

Enter Perfect Brows, on 1st Avenue between 78th and 79th. They will thread even the most unruly caterpillars into glorious arcs for the low, low cost of $7. And, what's more, repeat customers get their 7th threading free.

I went last week and the result was fantastic: clean arches with minimal redness after the fact. A week later, my brows are still perfectly shaped. If you live in the neighborhood, this is definitely a good spot to try.