"You have to stick with it..."

Until recently I would rather pick up a scorpion than my Denman brush.  The slow, tedious wrapping technique required a level of patience I had not yet acquired.  Fortunately for me, a colleague suggested I slow down and imagine the process being a transfer of energy.  He said, "You have to stick with it until the hair gives up its energy to you; until it surrenders to you".  Despite being armed with this new analogy it was obvious I didn't have the patience or "feel" for what was happening during the final seconds of the process.  I should have practiced it more.  

A few days later I was giving a product knowledge class at a salon and the receptionist asked if I would demonstrate a reconstructive process on her. Happy to reward participation I obliged.  When complete I asked for a blow dryer and brush.  Yep, you guessed it; I was handed a Denman.  

I think I spontaneously laughed out of fear then looked at her like she was handing me a speeding ticket.  I composed myself, smiled, took a deep breath then grabbed that brush like a Jedi grabbing his light saber and did EXACTLY as my colleague described. 

I even repeated his words to the class and those bending necks to see all the while reassuring myself that I could do it.  The group grew from four to seven just as I reached the 99% dry mark.  As countless times before, the hair began to swell.  My heart pounded, sweat beaded on my brow and my pace quickened resulting in even more volume!  I don't know why but my mind drifted to a traumatic childhood vacation when my father refused to look at the map instead sped up only to get us lost faster! Slow down I thought to myself and then I remembered the transfer of energy. 

I pulled the brush from the hair, took a shallow breath and went back in; this time with a softer hand and slower movement. Patiently, persistently, and with the determination of a salmon to spawn I exaggerated my stroke wrapping the entire surface of her head remembering to turn inward slightly when I reached the ends. I could see the shine developing as her hair transferred its energy to me. My patience had rewarded me with a beautiful finish and incredible feeling of satisfaction and pride. 

Patience pays and when you do the thing you fear the most the death of fear is certain.