They put a booster board across the arms of the salon chair and wrapped me in a coverall. Those were the days when each customer got a clean wrap, comb, brush, rollers… The hair dresser wrapped scotch tape around the top of each braid and cut. Yes, my booby prize was to walk out looking like the new me holding my 'lost' braids in each hand!
But the fun had not finished. Remember, 1960 and the advances they had made in beauty. I was to get a perm!
The 'kind' but horrified ladies picked me out and set me outside on the stoop to air out while they cleaned the shop up. They tried to freshen me up a bit and then back I went to the booster board to finish the procedure. Disgusting. There was the perm and then the awful heat of the hood hairdryer…the first I had ever seen.
To this day I will not 'do anything' to my hair other than cut it. For months after that perm I could smell that perm solution EVERY time I got my hair wet. I went to girl scout camp shortly after the perm and kids hated showering near me or swimming near me. Poor, poor sweet little Linda!
My 'prize' that day (tho the salon ladies thought the perm was the prize) was to go to the diner below my Dad's office and get a piece of Chocolate Cream Pie.