If you watch Channel 7, and hopefully you’re a loyal viewer, you’ve likely noticed there are two Asian female reporters.
I’ve been at 7News for a year now and I work alongside Janet Wu. She’s been with the station for a number of years and is extremely popular. So it’s a huge honor to be mistaken for her. I didn’t see the resemblance, since I thought Janet and I look completely different.  And we worked different shifts.

But then, one day I walked into work and saw it. We both had on red rain coats that day. We both had shoulder length, straight, dark brown hair. We’re relatively the same height and dress size. I could see how from afar, from behind, and to viewers, I could see how I’d be mistaken for her.
It wasn’t a huge deal, but I wanted to be me, so I decided I’d grow out my hair. My hair stylist at Dellaria, Alison, suggested curls. Waves, I could do waves.  So I’ve been doing that for a few weeks.

But my fashion-forward friend Bob, suggested extensions. Hmmm.  Really?  I chatted with Alison and she immediately said the man to do it is Tony at Dellaria. Which brings me to today.

9:30 Arrive at Dellaria Salon in Kenmore Square.

9:32 Tony shows me the packages of hair (12 of them), tells me to sit and relax because it’s going to be a few hours.  (I should mention I had a consultation with Tony before today to talk about what color extensions, how many I might need, and care of said extensions.)

9:35 Tony does a quick blow dry of my (freshly washed at home) hair.

9:40 The extension application and my blogging begins.

9:50 The first half dozen, done.  Tony is a master … and works with alacrity.

10:00 A slight trim of the first row.

10:10 The first package of a dozen extensions are in.

10:12 Tony apologizes for the pulling.  It doesn’t hurt, just feels like someone is constantly tugging at my hair.

10:13 Tony says I’ll likely need a Tylenol or something for later today.  Hmm.

10:20 Another trim and some flat ironing of new hair.

10:25 Trying to get blog going and am not noticing the tugging, clamping, and handling of my hair.

10:37 Tony says package 5 is done.   What?  Almost half way done?  This guy is quick!!!

10:45 I can feel my head getting a bit heavier.  I think I’m imagining things!

10:48 I’m posting a link to this blog onto Facebook so all my friends can judge how crazy, vain, nuts, or silly I am.

10:55 I’ve been eavesdropping on the conversations around me.  They include the things we wore in the ’80s.  Why did we don bright blue eye liner and cut off jean shorts with Reebok with Velcro straps?

11:00 We are officially half way done.

11:07 I now realize there is nothing really pretty about the process of getting your hair done.

11:08 Tony has me feel the thickness of my new hair and it has awaken my biggest apprehension about this venture — it’ll take me that much longer to get ready.  (Insert high maintenance joke here!!)

11:12 The woman next to me, who is getting highlights, is knitting.

11:13 I’m thinking about all the time we spend at the hair salon.  I’m a bit concerned!

11:14 A cut and color usually take about 2 hours.  I think most of us get our hair done every 8 weeks? That’s about 6 times a year.  So I spend roughly 12 hours a year at the salon.  That mathematical process took me about 2 minutes.  I think I need to work on my math skills.

11:20 Making little video of process.  Let’s see if I can get it uploaded.

11:22 Here’s the full length.  Very Pocahontas-esk!

11:26 We are now done with package number 9.  Trucking along. My neck is feeling a bit stiff.  I think this what you call Uptown Problems!

11:33 Emailed my video over iPhone but it’s not sending.  I’m wishing I brought my cord.

11:36 Just sent a tweet about what I’m doing.  I’m sure there will be plenty of wisecracks… and they’ll be well deserved.  I feel very vain.

11:44 Tweet from folks at South End Athletic Company… with a supportive commented on my tweet about extensions.  But I somehow feel less athletic now that I’ve exposed myself as “high maintenance.”  At least I’ll have a long ponytail the next time I run into the store.

11:50 Hubby just texted.  Wanted to know how new wife is looking.  We celebrate our ten year wedding anniversary at the end of the year.  I guess he deserves a new wife.

11:51 Oh, conversation next to me  has moved onto Arnold Schwarzenegger.  They’re all so sad for Maria Shriver and the children.

11:59 Got the video off my phone… uploaded onto iMovie… added music so you can not really hear my geeky chatter about being a big tech geek… and hopefully this works.

12:02 Tony wants to know if I feel tired. He’s the one doing all the work… but yes, yes, my neck does kinda feel stiff!!!!

12:05 Just felt my scalp, and I can feel where Tony placed the extensions.  Feels kinda weird.  This will take some getting used to!

12:09 Final package… 12 more… almost done! Woohoo!

12:11 Ok need to watch 7News at Noon online. Standby!

12:19 All extensions are in.  Tony now going in for the cut! Pix to come!

12:45 Need to feed meter as this is taking a bit longer than the 3 hours.

1:00 Final cut and flat iron.

1:15 Done. Here you go!!!

Tags: alison, channel 7, dellaria, hair, hair extensions, janet wu, kenmore square, susan tran, tony, whdh

This entry was posted on Friday, May 20th, 2011 at 9:41 am and is filed under blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.