I am a hair junkie.  I admit it.  I have no idea what my natural hair color is.  Nothing, with perhaps the exception of a facial, makes me feel better than a good cut and color.  There is something about sitting in that chair, diet coke in hand, magazine in lap, skilled hands working my strands that brings me peace in a way that nothing else does.  I don’t know if it’s a natural high from breathing in the chemicals or the comfort of being in an environment where no one is at their best.  At least walking in the door and during the process.  It’s a place to let your guard down and enjoy being a woman in all the superficial ways that make it fun to be a woman.   And right or wrong my self confidence soars when I know I’m looking good.  Which brings me to my dilemma, how much should we pay for that high? 

I have few vices.  I’m not a huge shopper.  I don’t indulge in frivolous buys, often.  I try my very best to be as frugal as I can.  But my hair is maintenance.  Expensive maintenance.  I have to admit I do pause when that bill comes and it’s $200.00 with tip and a product.  Is that expensive for hair?  I’m not sure.   I have worked in a salon and day spa.  I totally understand and appreciate the skill in involved in doing good hair.   I totally understand and appreciate the time involved to do good hair.  I have a thick head of hair.  I’m in for 3 hours for a cut and foils.  That’s a huge chunk of a stylist’s day, I get that.  So my question is; how much is too much?  What is a reasonable amount to pay for great hair? 

And am I paying for the tangible hair that I can see on my head or am I paying for that feeling that only comes from the salon?  I know that when I’m feeling down, when I’m feeling dumpy, when I’m feeling like, well, only a mom, I head for the salon.  And 99.9% of the time I come out feeling renewed, refreshed and reinvented.  I leave feeling on top of the world and ready to conquer.  At least for the 6 weeks it takes for my roots to show… 

So in the scheme of things is $200.00 a small price to pay for the feeling I get when I walk out the door?  Or is it simply my drug of choice and I need an intervention?