A Boy With Girly Hair - Part 12

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The Photo Shoot

 Trista went into the backroom to scrounge together whatever makeup she could find. I can’t believe this was the first time I would actually be photographed completely as a girl from the neck up.

Though I’d had very little makeup on before, what was about to happen was completely different.

Makeup, in most ways, is a mode of self-expression you highlight your best features, conceal other parts, and feel good about yourself. Makeup, for girls, is a confidence tool. But here, I was not looking for confidence. I was looking for anonymity. Trista and Jenna seemed to agree the heavier the makeup, the less recognizable I would be, and I have to say I agree. Had it been my own decision, I’d stray away from it completely, but I promised my sister I’d do this, and I will be getting my $250.

“Sammi, you ready?” Trista called from behind. Still not sure how I feel about allowing her to call me “Sammi.”

Trista led Jenna and me back to the styling chair. She had already laid out the makeup on the counter.

I sat down in the chair and looked at myself in the mirror. I don’t know if it will ever feel normal, looking at myself in the mirror with dolled up hair. I was still shirtless too from the photoshoot after Trista requested some “bareback” photos.

As Trista began to moisturize my face, I could see Jenna behind us in the reflected beam. This was her dream, being part of a beauty salon. And I know that she feels even better getting to share this moment with family. Sure, it’s a male member of the family, but still. I also noticed whenever I’m doing anything related to Sammi_Jacyln32, Jenna treats me differently. We’ve always been close, but her manner is a lot gentler during times like these.

Trista then started to fill in my brows with a pencil. It tickled just a little bit. “You have very nice eyebrows, Sammi. Have you done anything with them before?”

I honestly couldn’t remember, so I looked at Jenna. She shook her head. Guess this is the first time. I never understood the fascination with eyebrows, but I guess mine looked cleaner than they ever have.

Trista continued with foundation and concealer to finish off the base of my face. She held up a selection of eye shadow colors. “What do you think, Jenna?”

Jenna thought for a moment. “Let’s go with the Mossy green color. What do you think, Sammi?”

I shrugged. “I guess it looks pretty.”

“I like that…I like that a lot,” Trista said, nodding. “We should go for a sexy, green tonal look. We’re taking the essence of nature and adding a dash of Sammi!”

With her mind made up, Trista went to town on my face. She applied liner, a bronze-toned blush, a cream-based highlighter to help elevate my shine. Then she contoured my face, which really made my face pop and looks significantly more feminine. She finished off with a dark, neutral lipstick.

She stepped back from the mirror and admired her work.

“You’re beautiful, Sammi,” Trista said. Jenna had a huge smile on her face behind me. This was the first time I genuinely did not recognize myself in the mirror. I also looked 4 or 5 years older.

Trista then led me back over to the photoshoot room and began positioning me for pictures again, this time head-on.

Jenna stood by, occasionally helping primp my hair or touch up my makeup.

“Jesus, Sam. Even I barely recognize you. It’s amazing how good you look. Trista, you are a genius. I know for certain you’ll have no problem finding and keeping clients.”

“Thank you, darling,” Trista said, continuing to take pictures.” She picked up the tripod and moved it back a couple feet.

“Let’s get a hair flip in there, Sammi. Whataya say?”

“Okay… How do I do that?” I asked.

“Like this!” Jenna chimed in, taking her left hand and flicking her wrist. Though her hair obviously her shorter hair didn’t have the same effect.

I did the same, mimicking her. The hair bounced over my shoulder and onto my back.

“Cute!” Trista said. “Now give us a big, flirty smile while you do that!”

I gave her a smile, but it felt forced. Apparently, it looked forced too. “No, no, no,” Trista said. “Jenna, tell Sammi something that will make her genuinely smile.”

Jenna looked me up and down. “Sam, you are the best brother in the world. So few boys would do something like this for their sister—you know, helping support her dream? For that… I love you.”

That was the first time in a while I’d been told something like that. It meant the world to me. Jenna started to tear up, and so did I. Upon both of us simultaneously getting emotional, we began to laugh.

“That’s the smile I was looking for!” Trista said. I looked at the camera and she snapped a beautiful smile. “Now let’s get some more.”

She took a few more hair flip pictures, and once she showed them to me, they looked incredible. I looked like a real girl, having real fun.

“These will do wonderfully! I’ll touch ‘em up a bit and then have them printed full size. They’ll be great for business.”

“I really hope so,” I added. “You deserve it.”

We chatted a bit longer after her plans to open her business. Jenna was particularly intrigued, and I have to admit I thought it was an interesting conversation as well. Listening to anyone talk about their passions is always a pleasure, and even though I didn’t share the same excitement, I enjoyed hearing both their perspectives.

“Now, Sam, you need to decide before we leave—would you like your makeup taken off?” Trista asked.

“Hmm…it’s probably for the best,” I said, assuming. “I mean I only look like a girl from the shoulders up.”

“Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Jenna chimed in. “We wouldn’t want to waste such a nice makeover, right?

“What do you mean by ‘waste’?”

“Sam, I don’t think you’ve ever had such a nice makeover before. Trust me, situations like this are far and few between. Sure, I know how to apply make-up and do hair, but not like how Trista does. Don’t you maybe…want to enjoy it a little longer?”

Jenna seemed completely genuine. Oddly, in fact. Though she was framing her point as if it was for my benefit, it seems like she doesn’t want my makeover to go away for her own personal reasons. I think she really likes hanging out with this version of me.

Was it selfish of her? Maybe. But then again, I enjoy how Jenna acts around me whenever we’re doing makeover related things. We undeniably connect better.

“Okay, well, what were you proposing, Jenna?”

“I’m not sure—but we are out of town. And I told Mom we weren’t gonna be back for a couple more hours… Maybe we should take advantage of this unique opportunity to explore Milwaukee?”

“Okay… what are we supposed to do? Drive around in the car?” I asked.

“How about I take you two out for lunch? I know I’m already paying you for coming up, but I’m certain these pictures will be so great for business, I’m happy to give you a little bonus. What do you say?”

“I’m down!” answered Jenna quickly. She turned to me for approval.

“What? Go out in public? Looking like this?” I gestured to my shirtless self and unmatched halves of my body. “I can’t look like two different people.”

“Well, you’ll have to match some way.” Trista proposed. “So what would you like, Sam? We’re done with the photoshoot, so I’m happy to take your makeup off, and get your hair in a more masculine style.”

I began to shake my head but saw Jenna’s disappointed face. Her sadness didn’t come from not going out to lunch, it came from the possible disappearance of Sammi.

“…or, we could keep your dolled up head and scrounge together some clothes that make you presentable?”

Jenna appeared to like this option better.

For her. I’ll do it for her.

“Fine. I can stay as Sammi. But only because we’re out of town and I’m sure I won’t get recognized. But I still don’t want to draw any attention whatsoever.

Trista then whispered something to Jenna. I couldn’t really hear, but I think she said, “as if the boys would actually look away.” They giggled.

“Very well,” Trista said. “There’s a DressBarn a block away. We’ll walk there.” She tossed me my t-shirt. “But put this on. No way you’re walking outside shirtless.”

The woman grabbed their purses as I carefully slid the shirt over my hair. “I don’t think this big of hair was meant for a t-shirt neck hole,” I said, commenting on the absurdity.

“Don’t worry, Sam. We’ll get you something nice and pretty that’ll complement your look a lot better. I hope you’re excited…sis.” Jenna said, kissing me on the cheek.

Hmm, she’d never done that before. That’s such a…sister move.

After a little thought, I followed the women out the door on our way to pick up my first brand new outfit. What would it look like?