I'm so glad I realized that I had double-booked an appointment for Wednesday and had to cancel with my stylist. It led me to some googling and the discovery that there is a salon only two miles from me where they specialize in an advanced method for cutting curly hair called devachan (I think it's named after the NYC salon where the originator is based). My sister has talked up this method for a long time and I was even thinking of getting my hair done right before meeting up with everyone in NYC, but it will be a lot cheaper here in Boston, as well as much preferable to have a reliable place I can return to every time.

I am so pleased. The yelp reviews have this guy as the curly hair messiah. They say he'll show you how to achieve the look at home, and your hair will be completely transformed.

Actually my hair is kind of a weird texture, more wiry than curly, but maybe if he's that genius, Shan can find, or create, sweet, bouncy curls where none exist? LOL.

I feel like I am really 75% toward a new me now. I am totally chuffed and excited. Thanks to all of you, and Angie especially--I feel like I'm the sleeping princess that finally woke up and said, "Come on! I can do better than this!"

Unfortunately, you'll have to wait three weeks for pics.