My Layoff Beat- From Beatdown to “BEATiful”
I was laid off from my job last week. It sucks, but it has happened to over 1 million people over the last 12 months. It was a shock and I was a real mess the day it happened. For anyone who has gone through a layoff, it is a degrading experience. They give you some paperwork, a cardboard box and about 10-15 minutes to gather your raggedy belongings and get out. My Beat that day – that week – was a wreck to say the very least. (Note to self, invest in waterproof makeup.)
So my wonderful friends and glam squad, Adrin and JoElle gave me some lovin’ and transformed me from Beatdown to “Beatiful.” LOL
I needed my hair colored. My roots were so black and I had silver highlights everywhere (Adrin loves to use the term “mature blonde”). I also needed my ends trimmed. For this I usually get my hair straightened about every six months or so. Below is a before pic, look at my terrible puffy eyes. I can laugh now, but on that day, ’twas not funny. BTW I love my hair like this, big and bushy!!!
Big and full, just the way I like it
So Adrin gently detangles my tresses with Phytospecific Integral Hydrating Mist and starts to apply the color to my dark roots. This is my favorite color and I have been using for quite some time. It’s Clairol Textures and Tones in Cherrywood. I’m a natural girl but have a weakness for one chemical: color. This one is pretty gentle with no ammonia and includes a great conditioner. I haven’t been so bold to do it myself and with a BFF like my master stylist Adrin, I don’t have to.
Natural hair takes a little longer to process so I sat for about 30 minutes reflecting on how I would not be going to work the next day. Before a tear could fall, an assistant at the salon comes over to ask if I would like a complimentary hand massage. I am pleasantly surprised and this day is not the day to turn down anything free. She gives me these great lotions to sniff and try. Instantly, my mood changes. She massages my hands in a good, aggressive way. It was just what I needed to feel like myself again.
When the hand therapy is done I am immediately whisked away by Roger the colorist intern and salon assistant. He was great to talk to and we had a lengthy discussion about the color process and his dream to style at Victoria’s Secret runway show.
After my shampoo and deep conditioning, I go to this contraption to get my hair steamed. The steamer stimulates the scalp and increases blood circulation overall, making the hair stronger. Because the steam allows the conditioners to penetrate to the cuticle, it leaves the hair soft and smooth.
Everything was fine until it started smoking. I was in a little panic but people kept walking by calmly, so the steam coming out of the gadget must be normal.
Steamer minus the steam
JoElle comes to see me and I tell her about my day. She gives me a great big hug and reassures me that everything will work out. In the meantime, she needs to fix my eyebrows. She waxes them to perfection. Finally it’s time for the blow out, trim and flat iron.
With a little more detangler, Phytospecific Moisturizing styling cream and a little shea butter, I am transformed. The flat iron Adrin used to straighten my hair was the Ted Gibson Flat iron. Its ceramic tourmaline and can be used on damp to dry hair.
At this point, the last thing I am thinking about is a layoff. I am fried, dyed and laid to the side. LOL . Thanks Adrin, JoElle and the Ted Gibson Hela Spa staff for making an uncomfortable day, unforgettable.
Bouncy and Beautiful
3 days later- still bouncy
Keep your head up girl! A bigger and better opportunity will come along shortly I’m sure. In the meantime, it’s great to have good and talented friends to hook you up and help you feel better!
Way to turn a bad day into a beautiful day pampering yourself! I’ve had many friends and family members deal with layoffs, and they are now in better positions than they were before–blessing in disguise! I hope the same is true for you!
Are you still active with Media Mingle and Heart & Soul? I first learned about you and your ventures in The Black Cotillion.
Be well,
Jacqueline aka @MpactJacq
Great writing! Nice way to turn a traumatic day into a triumph of beauty!
Bigger and better things are in store for you!
Good for you… Therapy at it’s finest!
You look beautiful. This is only the beginning for you. This I know. Love ya!
LA,
Something greater is right around the corner. Email me and let me know everything you’re great at. Hopefully, I’ve seen something lately.
Hey,
I got laid off in October and you are so right it is cold how things go down. They kept half of my team so while they were all upstairs having pizza and breathing sighs of relive the rest of us were being laid off downstairs. One of my co workers had snuck out to call me and let me know what was going on and while she was telling me I was being summons to the conference room by my boss. Words like “sorry” and “we will need your badges” and “we had 10 minutes to gather are things” were the themes of that meeting. In my head I saw myself turning into Uma Thurman in “Kill Bill” when she was in that Japanese Bar killing everyone. When I shook myself back into reality, I realized jail and working for less than 2cents a day was not the retirement plan I had in mind. Oh well back to the drawing board.
There is a reason and a purpose for every part of our journey and we may not understand or even have a hard time accepting it but it is our journey and as long as we are alive we know that there are bigger and better things to happen for us and to us.
Oh LA, I absolutely loved this post! It was raw, and comical, and inspirational and informational, LOL. Thanks for sharing.
It’s nothing like a day of beauty to take the blues away! Keep your head up! This window has closed but look for the door that is going to open for you soon!
Thank God for good friends! I hope you are feeling better.