Corta e Lunga

It is always surreal to go to my hair appointments. My salon is a couple blocks from my house so I walk or bike. Inside everything is stark white and modern. It is so strange to sit in this modern salon, reading an Italian Elle and looking out the window at 500 year old buildings. Quite a contrast. Perhaps this is why modern décor is so popular in Italy.

The same girl has been cutting my hair since we moved here and I always get a variation of the same cut. A bob, short in the back, long in the front. This time my hair was rather long for me (shoulder length) and I asked her to cut it short—to my chin. She speaks no English but we get by on my little Italian and lots of pointing.

So she cuts it like she always does except when she finishes the left side is to my chin and the right is at least two maybe three inches longer. When I asked her about it, she spoke all in Italian and all I heard was “Italian, Italian, questa e corta, e questa e lunga (this is short and this is long), Italian, Italian, Italian, questa e corta e questa e lunga. I have to admit it was kind of cool in a dramatic kind of way. And I considered it for a moment. Then she said it all again. . . Italian, Italian, questa e corta, e questa e lunga (this is short and this is long), Italian, Italian, Italian, questa e corta e questa e lunga, Italian, Italian, Italian. She could have been saying, everyone in Italy is wearing it this way or this is a good cut for you or you look like a clown. Who knows.

Are your wondering if I still have asymmetrical hair? Maybe next time. This time, I had her cut the long side to match the short side. If I see other people with it, I’m definitely doing it next time, but for now I’m not going to be a trendsetter. I already stand out enough here.

So, if this cut becomes the next big thing in America, just remember I had it first. (If only for 30 seconds.)