You tell the hairdresser that you'd love to keep it long for now, but she manages to talk you into what she calls a "Cascading French Crown." You sit and watch her carefully weave your luscious new tresses between her fingers. The unfamiliar sensation of your scalp being tugged is amusing. Part of you is unsure about these exploits. Do you really want yourself prettied up like this? Next thing you know, you'll probably want to shop for jewelry.
Just as you think to yourself that jewelry shopping actually sounds like a good idea, the woman finishes pinning a crown braid to your head. She takes a step back to admire her work, and you turn your head from side to side to examine it.
It's pretty much as she said it would be. You have a lovely multi-tiered crown braid coiled atop your head, meanwhile the majority of your hair still flows freely from beneath it. You stand up and spin around. You come to a stop and your skirt and hair toss about, but the crown stays put exactly where it was pinned. You feel like a wannabe princess.
You realize you've been silent all this time, and that a compliment is probably in order. However, turning to look up at the blue-haired woman, "Wow" is all that you manage to say.
It seems to be enough. "I knew you'd like it. A lot of women don't go for it. They think it makes them look too 'girly.' Heaven forbid. At least there aren't any ribbons coiled up in it. Then you might be going a little overboard for an everyday look."
She opens a drawer and pulls out what seems to be a giant, shelved tackle box. You realize that it's full of makeup.
"Sit back down, hon. This part's on the house."
You tell her you're not sure about the makeup, but she insists she won't use too much. As she applies a dusting of blush and pinkish lipstick, she explains how important it is that you keep all of your figure balanced.
"A good dress will make your hair look bad. Then once you get good hair, that will make your face look bad. It's all a matter of moderation and balanced application. Don't put too much in one area. Spread the good looks around. There, see?" She steps away from your face and you can see your reflection once again.
You're not sure what to think. It doesn't actually look like she changed much, but as you look closer you can see that your lips are a little shinier, your cheeks are a little rosier, and your eyes have a hint of light blue eyeshadow. You don't look like you're about to hit the night clubs, but you don't look entirely plain, either. You're starting to see her point. Especially with a hairstyle like yours, a bit of makeup goes a long way toward supporting your appearance. You begin to think about how often the girls at your college apply makeup, and how rarely you've actually taken notice when they didn't use it in excessive amounts. Even after you return to your male state, you doubt you'll ever look at girls the same way again.
"Thank you so much," you say, standing up again. "It's fantastic. All of it."
"Come back some time and I'll teach you how to braid that yourself. It's tricky, but it's possible. Now, that'll be $20."
You think of something else. You glance at the rack of brushes. "Are the brushes for sale?"
"Like the one I used on you?" she smiled. "Yes, that's $25. It's quite a good seller." $25 was expensive for an ordinary brush, but cheap for a magic one. You gladly fork over the cash, then notice you have very little left over. Jewelry shopping might have to wait.
As you dump your wallet back into the shopping bag, you realize the hairdresser has noticed your boy clothes inside it. When she sees that you're blushing, she gives you a wink.
"Um...," you squeak. The woman puts an arm on your shoulder.
"You think I didn't recognize that generic uniform the minute you walked in here?" she teases. "Don't be embarrassed. I get guys like you all the time. They're usually more hesitant to get a girly style, though."
"I see." You slouch, but the woman puts a hand under your chin and gently lifts your face up to look at her.
"Now now, we'll have none of that! What do you think our shops are here for? We're not trying to humiliate you. We want you to enjoy your changes, not resist them just because they aren't 'normal.' If you find something that excites you, dive right in! I haven't met a man, woman or thing yet that's regretted their change. You see Henry over there?"
You look at the large man and nod.
"She used to be a pole dancer."
* * *
As you walk out of the salon with the comb in your bag and your hair swishing against your skirt, you feel more confident. You finally understand the purpose of this strange mall, and you're determined to use its magic to the fullest. What had started out as a search for an innocent party costume was turning into an amazing new life experience, and you can't wait to find out where it takes you.