I finally redeemed my Drybar gift certificate I got from my boss today since I’m going out with Chris and friends tonight to celebrate my birthday a day early. I walked into the Drybar on the Upper East Side this afternoon for my appointment and was greeted with glasses of mimosas, a large selection of gourmet cookies, and stacks and stacks of beauty and fashion magazines. The boutique was brightly lit, decked in white and yellow, and every woman sitting and waiting for an appointment seemed high strung and as though they were regulars at this spot. Clearly, I did not fit right in.

I got called in and my stylist asked me what brought me in. I told her I was new and had never done a blowout before, but that I’d like the Cosmo, the look from their limited menu that has loose curls. I told her my hair does not take curls well at all… so good luck. She washed and conditioned my hair, and proceeded to segment my hair out and clip, clip, clip it all up. And she began her blowing out and her curling. And I felt too much heat at my roots and so much on my hair that as the minutes went by, all I could think was, there is no way this could be healthy. But at the end, I was impressed with what she had done in such a short period of time. I had a head full of curls, and it actually looked good — I had volume, curls, and bounce. I also felt like a different person when I looked at myself in the mirror. This is why this place is addictive, I thought as I walked out. Women love being treated and pampered, and we all seem to love the idea of being transformed into gorgeous specimens.

But I have too much prudence to make this a regular fix for myself. It’s not in me to get too obsessive about my hair and other aspects of my physical appearance, and I’ll never be a fashionista who makes what she wears a top priority in her life. Food and travel are so much bigger and more exciting.