Mareena Palace Salon- DraAaaaMaaa!

I decided yesterday it was time for me to get my hair done at my fav salon. It's not the salon that I like but the Filipino stylist Josie. Actually my first visit to the salon was quite traumatic. My friend took me there as she liked their service and she knew I couldn't find or trust anyone to do my hair in Kuwait. I gave it a try. I figured the manager being Lebanese knew what she was doing. A lot of the stylists here are Lebanese and they are known for their flair. I wanted red with blonde highlights, no biggie right? WRONG! Even after showing her a pic on my laptop she felt I needed black hair with red strips! NO WAY! Then she proceeded to butcher my hair with regular scissors not stylist scissors.

In the end I had chunks of hair missing and I started crying. Mess with anything except a woman's hair do. Then Josie took over and fixed my hair and I was happy with the outcome so I've been going to only her for 3 years now. A lot of the customers are expats as well as Kuwaiti chicks. It never fails that some drama happens when I'm there.

I came at 3 p.m. to make sure Josie was there and she would have time for me. After waiting an hour her 4 p.m. didn't show so she started on my hair. Well at 5:30 the Kuwaiti chicks decided to show up for their 4 p.m. appointment. Typical. They come when they feel like it and expect immediate service. They chilled out for a little while talking and drinking their coffee they brought like they were sitting in their living room. Then they became restless and started asking about their turn. Here we go, I knew this was the start of a big problem.

She left me in the middle of highlighting to tend to these chicks. I was thinking about my poor hair and hoping it wouldn't mess up. Josie handed of one of the chicks to the other stylist. No problem. As she finished my hair she started working on the other chicks highlights. I knew this couldn't be good. She was taking too much in order to satisfy those noisy chicks. Josie asked the Lebanese manager to come over and finish up while she took care of me. The manager didn't ask about the highlights, she just began working.

I finished up and it was time for my cut and blow dry, that is until the Kuwaiti chick blew up and started yelling. I guess the manager realized she didn't know how big the highlight strips were until the last part. Josie left me to tend to the raging female. She was yelling in English and Arabic and going craaaazy. Josie made the mistake of saying she treats American and Kuwaiti customers the same. Crap! I was not wanting to fight but if someone said something about Americans I'd have to step in. The Lebanese manager came to me as if she wanted to cut my hair. Hell freaking NO! I was no, no I'll wait for Josie. I had a flashback of her butchering my hair. PTSD.

I did however put my 2 cents in trying to take up for Josie who was taking a verbal beating from that woman. It was awful and I felt so bad for her. The chick was yelling at her about how she paid money and deserved service and blah, blah, blaaaaah! Josie did defend herself telling the chick that she did have a 4 p.m. appointment and she came 1 1/2 hours late. The chick pretty much told her to shut up and don't say another word to her.

As Josie came back to finish my hair she started crying and I felt so bad to see an older lady cry because of some chick who has no respect for people. I tried to cheer her up but I could see the look of sadness in her eyes. It's not like the manager pays her a lot of money. Josie works 2 weeks with only 1 day off and has to pay for her own housing and transportation which leaves her with a 100 kd. If it weren't for Josie the salon wouldn't have 1 customer coming in.

Josie you are one in a million and I appreciate all you do!