I'm considering . . . Hairdultery

Hairdultery: Cheating on your longtime hair stylist.

Yep. I'm considering it.

I've been seeing my current stylist for 25 years, and I think we're in a rut. There's just no excitement in our relationship anymore. Every time I see her, I leave with the same hair style, even though I've been asking for something new for about a year now.

Through some weird coincidence, 3 of my customers (whose hair always looks fantastic!) all go to the same stylist at a tony shop in downtown Augusta - their hair always looks so marvelous that I did something I never do - I asked who cuts their hair. And was astounded that it was the same stylist for all 3 of them. This shop would normally not be in my budget, but after seeing my regular stylist on Wednesday, and leaving with my hair actually looking worse (to me) than when I walked in (because even after 25 years of me telling her I like a side part, she sent me out into the world with a center part yet again, which I hate), I decided to make an exploratory phone call to the new salon, and see about an appointment.

And I got one right away - but then I started feeling doubly guilty, since I had literally just paid my old stylist for a cut, and I just couldn't justify paying for 2 hair cuts in one week, no matter how much I want a new style, so I called the new salon back and rescheduled for a couple weeks from now.

I'm nervous about the new appointment, but excited, too. And now, the guilt and the questions and self-doubt are seeping in. Because it really does feel like cheating, after 25 years. I already have my regular follow-up appointment with my old stylist, but I can't really waltz in their after getting a totally new cut, acting like nothing's changed! And I can't really afford to keep going to the new place, although I may do some more belt-tightening if I really love the new cut. But clearly, my old stylist will catch on if she sees me. And I can't go to both of them.....what to do?

Have you guys ever changed stylist after a long term (hair) relationship? How do you do it? Should I just call and cancel the next follow-up appointment with the old stylist, and not reschedule? Do I tell her the truth? (I really don't want to hurt her feelings!) She really is a friend - we have gone for Girl's Night Out a couple of times (over the past 25 years), and I have kept her dog when she's had to go out of town, and she and her husband even came to my retirement party when I left that soul-sucking corporate job I used to have - so it's a little more than just a stylist-client relationship. I'm afraid of hurting her feelings, and losing a friend, but I want new hair! This is weird.

Advice, anyone?