A Day At The Salon

Ashagre volunteered to go first to get his dreads tightened.

Both Ashagre and Tina were equally enthralled with Lady and the Tramp.

Seriously? Isn't he handsome?

Next it was Elsa's turn. She crawled a top three phone books to get her first EVER braids put in. All her life she has watched the big girls get their hair braided at the orphanage while her hair was kept in a nice, easy-care buzz cut. She once told me that on hair-cutting day she would line up with the other little girls. When it was her turn, one caretaker would hold her in a big bear hug to keep her still while her hair was shaved off with a pair of clippers. Today was a special day; it was as if her time had finally come. She was big and important enough to have her hair braided.

Just getting started, grinning from ear to ear.

Even though I did it yesterday, the comb out really hurt.
I took this picture to try and distract her, but full blown
tears came anyway. She was determined though, so we cooled
off in the bathroom and she headed back out for the braiding.

Red-eyed and apprehensively brave.

The braiding hurt a little too, but just for short periods
of time so she stuck it out. I may have to look for a
different braider. What I really need to do is learn to
do it myself.

So adorable in the end. The whole neighborhood came
out to compliment her when we got home. I'm sure her
friends at school will love it tomorrow. Can't you see
the pride in her eyes?

We finished off the day with a huge injera-filled feast in Little Ethiopia. We then swung by the Merkato Market to poke around and look for a big dread hat for Ashagre. The girl who works there, and always remembers Elsa, promised me she will give me the number of someone in Little Ethiopia that will braid her hair for half the price. Maybe she'll be a bit gentler too.

He wants to grow his dreads as long as Michael Franti
and tuck them up under his hat like his favorite musician.