I moved to inside-the-loop hipster Houston and had the exact same problem. Every stylist recommended was too young or wanted to make me look too young. I finally found a stylist I loved — 70-year-old silver-haired Nefty who was around for the first round of the 90s bob and was ready to re-create it on my head to perfection! Nefty retired this year (SOB!) so I’m on the lookout once again. But my recommendation is find someone your age or older — they know their shit!!
North Austin or West Austin is where to find the style you describe. I grew up outside Austin. Spent some time there in high school doing some underage drinking and driving around aimlessly with a group of friends dazed and confused. Absolutely hilarious to me that your picture of what Austin wants you to look like channels how we dressed in the 70's. I guess those were Austin's glory years.
I've had the opposite problem in a small town in California. I've gone natural white since I was 40, now 64, and need a long layered bob for my natural waves but I like them to get it short in the back and so many young hairstylist are afraid to do that. They must have the thought that a proper older woman needs to look neat and proper but I still want to have a more quirky style I guess (not sure what's the right word, ESL)
I had a similar experience when I moved to Austin in 1999 to hack for a dot com. My last hair cut was at Camp Lejuene in December 1990. I also quit shaving in 1992 when I moved back to Madison. I did not have problems with my hair until the dot com bubble popped and i ended up needing a "corporate hair cut."
As an old (and I do mean OLD) Santa Fean, I now shave my own head in Tucson. Nobody cares much about looks except how to be comfortable in extreme heat. By around age 70, I came to the realization that my life-long waist-length mane was never going to age like elderly Mexican ladies. I imagined myself growing old in trezas like Mama Coco. But we gavachas only thin out and fade like the moon in the middle of the day while our hair goes thin and stringy with tinges of musty yellow. Sigh. And in 110-degree heat it's a struggle washing and combing out … aye dios mio. So out comes my shaver w/guard in place so I don’t go bald. It’s my best friend, and I never look the same twice! Adelante, chica!
Fifty year old hairdresser in Portland, OR here. I love your writing. I wish I could help with the hair. Thank you for helping me see Texas differently. Texas deserves to be seen and you deserve good hair ! I don’t know a soul in Austin, but I’m a fan and I’m full of nothing but love and hope for you and your hair ! ❤️
Raylene Witt at Monarch (183/Anderson Mill). She was my hairdresser for years, and she's great with classic cuts and color or whatever wild stuff you might want after you've been in Austin awhile. And she *listens* which is so important
Come to San Antonio and I’ll introduce you to my hairdresser at Ippodaro Salon—a small, woman-owned business that knows how to treat people right, uses only organic products, and teaches the wider community of beauty professionals how to spot victims of human sexual trafficking.
Alisa, I still have an autographed copy of your book “Playing With Boys,” and just found your Substack so I am thrilled and just subscribed !! Similar thing keeps happening to me at various Salons in Orlando — three different young stylists swore to me that I don’t want to blend my grays with more silvers because “I’ll regret it” and “feel old” and I’m “still too young” at 49 to “let myself go” and the thing I didn’t say out loud with a new crotchety abuelita voiceover I’ve been practicing for my Latinas in Tech TV show: “I was programming your algorithmic biases before you were born !” 😂
And then of course, I obeyed and submitted to JLo blond highlights. In other words, also looking for a stylist in Orlando who isn’t totally brainwashed. Ping me, porfa!! 🫶🏻
Giana, or anyone at Milk+honey in the Galleria in Bee Cave.
I moved to inside-the-loop hipster Houston and had the exact same problem. Every stylist recommended was too young or wanted to make me look too young. I finally found a stylist I loved — 70-year-old silver-haired Nefty who was around for the first round of the 90s bob and was ready to re-create it on my head to perfection! Nefty retired this year (SOB!) so I’m on the lookout once again. But my recommendation is find someone your age or older — they know their shit!!
North Austin or West Austin is where to find the style you describe. I grew up outside Austin. Spent some time there in high school doing some underage drinking and driving around aimlessly with a group of friends dazed and confused. Absolutely hilarious to me that your picture of what Austin wants you to look like channels how we dressed in the 70's. I guess those were Austin's glory years.
Elizabeth
512.944.0187
She works great with gray tones
And slate low- lights
I've had the opposite problem in a small town in California. I've gone natural white since I was 40, now 64, and need a long layered bob for my natural waves but I like them to get it short in the back and so many young hairstylist are afraid to do that. They must have the thought that a proper older woman needs to look neat and proper but I still want to have a more quirky style I guess (not sure what's the right word, ESL)
Aveda, or the Aveda beauty school
I had a similar experience when I moved to Austin in 1999 to hack for a dot com. My last hair cut was at Camp Lejuene in December 1990. I also quit shaving in 1992 when I moved back to Madison. I did not have problems with my hair until the dot com bubble popped and i ended up needing a "corporate hair cut."
As an old (and I do mean OLD) Santa Fean, I now shave my own head in Tucson. Nobody cares much about looks except how to be comfortable in extreme heat. By around age 70, I came to the realization that my life-long waist-length mane was never going to age like elderly Mexican ladies. I imagined myself growing old in trezas like Mama Coco. But we gavachas only thin out and fade like the moon in the middle of the day while our hair goes thin and stringy with tinges of musty yellow. Sigh. And in 110-degree heat it's a struggle washing and combing out … aye dios mio. So out comes my shaver w/guard in place so I don’t go bald. It’s my best friend, and I never look the same twice! Adelante, chica!
I love this post ❤️
Fifty year old hairdresser in Portland, OR here. I love your writing. I wish I could help with the hair. Thank you for helping me see Texas differently. Texas deserves to be seen and you deserve good hair ! I don’t know a soul in Austin, but I’m a fan and I’m full of nothing but love and hope for you and your hair ! ❤️
Raylene Witt at Monarch (183/Anderson Mill). She was my hairdresser for years, and she's great with classic cuts and color or whatever wild stuff you might want after you've been in Austin awhile. And she *listens* which is so important
Real world problems. Keep them coming. Now about the OG mullet that I was accused of having in my teens…
Come to San Antonio and I’ll introduce you to my hairdresser at Ippodaro Salon—a small, woman-owned business that knows how to treat people right, uses only organic products, and teaches the wider community of beauty professionals how to spot victims of human sexual trafficking.
Alisa, I still have an autographed copy of your book “Playing With Boys,” and just found your Substack so I am thrilled and just subscribed !! Similar thing keeps happening to me at various Salons in Orlando — three different young stylists swore to me that I don’t want to blend my grays with more silvers because “I’ll regret it” and “feel old” and I’m “still too young” at 49 to “let myself go” and the thing I didn’t say out loud with a new crotchety abuelita voiceover I’ve been practicing for my Latinas in Tech TV show: “I was programming your algorithmic biases before you were born !” 😂
And then of course, I obeyed and submitted to JLo blond highlights. In other words, also looking for a stylist in Orlando who isn’t totally brainwashed. Ping me, porfa!! 🫶🏻