Wet Headed and Broke

I am anal... About my hair. I know what most of y'all who are around me and see me are thinking, "but her hair looks the same everyday". Yes. This may be true, I tend to either go for the swoop part, side bangs, straightened look or the 'Caroline's messy bun" look all day,everyday (It seems to be buns more often than not lately). But I am anal about those go to looks.
I have never strayed from my blonde locks. And I never will. I get complimented a lot on my color which, I am lucky, happens to be mostly natural, except for the 3 month touch ups I have to brighten it every now and then. I have always had the swoop part. Although I have dabbled in the length of my hair, either a bit past the shoulder, right above the shoulder,a bob and once, only once, past my bubbies, I have never strayed from the actual shape of my hair. Never a new part, Never no long layers, and never not blonde.
Only recently, about a year and a half ago, did I actually bite the bullet and ad side bangs to my swoop. And I love them.
Being this annul about a style that is virtually impossible to disrupt has caused a lot of drama in my years searching for the perfect hair stylist. Although, I may not want to depart from my classic hair ways, I do prefer a stylist who can make it look the very best that it can! I want someone who knows what I like, can give me what I like, and perhaps, offer new suggestions that fall into the realm of my classic cut but perhaps will give it a new twist.
All through college I continued to go home to get my hair done. It was a hassle but when I was in college I wasn't exactly preoccupied with my hair. As long as it maintained its blonde, swoop and style I was fine.
When I graduated I felt it was time to search out a new stylist in Birmingham. I dreaded this. I just knew that I was going to be disappointed. Even though it always probably looked the same to all of my friends and co-workers. I knew the difference, and I wasn't happy. I went through at least 5 salons and stylists before I found "she who will not be named stylist". I loved her. She gave me great color and even updated my do and made it a bit more chic and grown up. Also, I am not a talker when I go into the salon, I'm sure some of you are gasping, but I like to read a magazine from cover to cover while I am being made up. And that was the great thing about "she who must not be named stylist." She just did my hair and if there was something to talk about we talked if not I read. Perfect!
Until yesterday. I have been seeing "she who must not be named stylist" for about a year. And slowly I have come to find that I have started to grow uncomfortable in her styling chair. I never knew why until yesterday. She has no time for her job. Her job is to do my hair to the best of her ability... Thank You! And she doesn't. Yesterday I had an appointment for a full highlight, a cut and a bang trim. As I sat in the chair reading as she foiled I thought all was well until she walked away about 30 minutes into foiling and I realized only half my head was in tin. I figured oh, maybe she is just going to mix more color. Nope 30 minutes later the shampoo girl comes to check my color, which only added more to my anxiety, shouldn't "she who must not be named stylist" be checking on my color progress?!
I was promptly escorted by the shampoo girl to the shampoo chair where she proceeded to wash out all the color mess. I was then led back to the the chair where I waited, what felt like 500 hours due to my rising anxiety, for "she who must not be named stylist" to return. She then told me that she didn't want to trim my hair because she really thought I would like to see how long it could get and she didn't want to take off any length. So she just cut my bangs, which she didn't even really cut, they look no different.
And then the nail in the coffin: " So do you want to be blown dry?" Um... do you even have to ask? " I just have a really bad headache so if you could do it yourself that would be great." Um... " You can just pay up front." Um...
So I left a couple of hundred Benjamins lighter and wet headed.
I'm sure you all are thinking "why didn't you say anything?" Because it would have been really awkward, I was nervous and I could tell something was up with "she who must not be named stylist".
Thankfully, My hair is still in tact and my classic style great as ever. But, needless to say, I am on the hunt for a new stylist. Any suggestions for the Birmingham area would be greatly appreciated.