Waves upon waves..

Isn't it funny how you never really forget something? I've been putting off practicing my finger waves-- no, not the "hello" kind; molding and setting the hair in waves-- for much longer than I should have. All because I was afraid that I couldn't do it. It never was my strong point. I was called the chemical queen. I could do color, perms, hair relaxers, and the like with very little worry. Chemistry never worried me. I love science. I also love art, so that helped with color.

If a teacher couldn't be found, I was the one everyone went to to double check their formulas. I was the one who checked their clients' hair to see if the perm was done, to see if the bleach had lightened the hair enough, to see and fix when things went wrong. That to me is easy. I can memorize charts and diagrams with the greatest of ease. This is why I've always done well enough on tests. I just memorize the hell out of everything. I never worried about tests. Well, not too much.

I always worried about what everyone thought were the "easy" parts. Roller sets, finger waves, pin curls, etc. Manual things. I can control chemicals and make them my bitch, but I can't force my fingers to do what they won't. And for the longest time, I was a complete moron when it came to rolling things. No, not joints, you stoner. I'm talking perm rods and rollers an' shit. I always had the sloppiest sets. It was frustrating beyond belief because I tried so hard. I never had to work at learning. This was work.

I know I always pissed people off because I never really put any serious effort into studying and I always had good grades. Even my teachers kinda made fun of it and took for granted that I'd just know something. It always made me feel exceptionally stupid when I didn't know something because that expectation was always there. It was a lot of pressure. Most of it placed on me by myself.

And that's where the finger waves really come in. It was the hardest thing for me to do. I spent many an hour, frustrated beyond comprehension, a steady stream of curses dribbling from my lips under my breath-- because of the kids, you know; they love to point out when I say bad things. I've even gone so far as to throw my mannequin across the room. I was terrified of my State Board exam. Part of it is practical. I have to show them that I can do a finger wave. I had to practice.

The first time I attempted a finger wave practice session, I was very stupid. You can't put a wave in straight hair. Well, not if the straight hair is on a mannequin. Even on a human head, it would be very difficult. Straight hair doesn't like to bend, the wave will fall out. So what do I do? I attempt a finger wave on a mannequin with straight hair when I have a perfectly good mannequin that has permed hair. Of course, it didn't work. I was angry and scared, sure I was going to fail. Then I realized what I did and felt dumber than dumb.

Today, I finally grit my teeth and got down to it. I grabbed the permed mannequin and sat down. I would get a finger wave today, even if it meant there would be a body count. No one would distract or dissuade me. I got that determined glint in my eye and the house cleared out. My father called my mother to say that I looked particularly evil today and he was taking off for a while-- I guess you can train an old dog to do new tricks. I grabbed my things and....well, I did it. It was so anti-climatic, really. It took me less than fifteen minutes and I did the entire head. Not well, mind you. I wasn't going for well, really. I just wanted to see if I could do it. And I could. Better than I ever could while in school. It was a relief.

I might even try to do it well next time.