The first hair wash by Keith

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I remember my first hair wash on my 17th birthday . Back then,1996, I had thick, lush dark brown hair. I was in a major store in Birmingham City centre, England. I was wearing a checked shirt and straightcut jeans and was going with my mum.

Inside the store, on the 3rd level, was a Italian men's hair salon, pricy, but well furnished with around 10 chairs, each with a deep sink in front. My mum said I should get a hair cut for my birthday treat.

I clearly recall a man around 30/35,6ft,neck length mullet hair,handle bar moustache wearing bootcut jeans and a white shirt being gowned up. I saw the young 5ft female hairdresser put a towel round him and switch on the water.

I watched as he moved forward and bent over the basin as she ushered him to do so. His hair was being soaked as she ran the water through it. Then the shampooing started. Really leathery and thick then I was called to the chair next to him.

I sat in. A skinny nervous unshaven 5ft9 teenage now being gowned up myself. My hairdresser was older, probably the age I am now, in her 40s. She ran hair hands through my grease, thick hair.

Before I even spoke "It needs a good wash" she said matter of fact to me and my mum. "Yes, you're right he does need it". My mum said in total agreement.That was that, I was getting shampooed.

I watched as she started to get a towel from the cabinet by my chair and put it round me. I had butterflies in my stomach as a looked into the sink in which my head would soon be dunked. Just then she was called away to the desk for 2, 3 minutes at most. The butterflies were still there. I looked nervously at my mum standing directly to the side of me. She didn't notice and then sat down behind me in the waiting area.

Meanwhile the other man I had seen was finished. I saw the young hairdresser wrap his head in the towel as he straightened up in the chair and the sound of the water gurgling away. So fixited I was I failed to notice my hairdresser was back and turning on the water.

I looked as she tested the temperature, adjusting the dial, this took about 20-30 seconds. Then it was my turn.

"Aliright son, bend forward and keep your eyes shut.". She said in a polite but direct tone.

I moved forward in the chair, I had this enormous gown on, as I bend forward into the sink she got the back of my head and guided me in. The wash had started.

With my eyes closed I could feel my hair being soaked as she ran her fingers through it. I peaked out of one eye and saw my very wet hair hanging over me. This was wonderful and then she messaged the shampoo in, she was firm and it leathered up well. Every bit of my head had shampoo on it and could just see the foam in the sink. This lasted at least 3 minutes. I could hear her talk to my mother as she was rinsing out the first lot.

".. I'll wash him ( meaning me) twice and condition.." Unbelievable, I was getting another long, firm shampoo. I could feel every bit of dirt and dandruff being washed off my scalp. If only I could see this from her perspective I thought, my head, soaked, full of shampoo.

After the conditioner was rinsed out I felt the towel put over and wrapped tightly round me. I looked in the mirror with the towel wrapped around my head, feeling very satisfied with my first shampoo experience.

I don't recall much of the actual hair cut, but my mum paid £21.99p for this. As I left I saw another young lad being prepared for a shampoo. I only got to see the towel go round his shoulders before I left and the water being turned on. He was in for a treat😉.

Now, over 25 years later, and many shampoo experiences at barbers and hair salons it is still the one I remember vividly. I am, however thinning on top so don't visit as often as I did. But when I do, I get a shampoo.

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