Dear Answer Angel Ellen: Your recent question from the self-described successful “smart woman boss” who was too afraid at the salon to tell her longtime stylist how she wanted her hair done? Well, I could have written it!

But reading about that woman’s plight inspired me. I promised myself I would tell my stylist how I wanted him to fix my hair after many years of keeping my mouth shut. Today, I did just that. I even brought a few photos from the internet to show exactly how I wanted it styled.

He didn’t make even the slightest effort to give me the hairdo I asked for. Just the same old, same old! Now what?

--Bella R.

Dear Bella: Congratulations on speaking up, telling — and showing — him precisely what you want!

You already know what’s next: It is time to find a new stylist. Stat! Ask friends whose haircuts, styling and color you admire for recommendations.

Reader Gail T. says, “She should ask anyone she sees with great hair and ask her who her stylist is. Then go!” Reader Maggie M. jokes that this commonplace reluctance to speak up to a stylist “has to do with knowing that the person is going to hold scissors next to your head after you talk to him.”

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I’ve gained weight and I now have an underwear drawer with a good number of too-tight, expensive bras. I was a 36 but I’m now a 38 or even a 40. This has got to be a common problem but is there a simple solution?

--Celina A.

Dear Celina: If the cup size is still OK, there is a quick, easy (and cheap) fix: a bra extender. They have been around since long before the internet (even back when my late mom was a young woman) and are usually sold in packs of 3 for under $7 at numerous online sites and some fabric stores. They come in black, white and some skin tones in two-, three-, four-, five- and six-hook options. My friend found a new-with-tags $72 Wacoal bra at a thrift store for only $1. It was a 36 but she is a 38. The bra extender worked perfectly for her and it will for you too.

Angelic Readers

For the reader who said popular “barrel jeans” look awful on all women, Mary B. disagrees: “The prototype for barrel jeans -- loose at the top and tight at the ankles -- were in vogue circa 1979-80 and they were a godsend to women with hourglass figures (with maybe a few extra ‘minutes’ in the bottom globe). The shape offers room for butts and bellies, while still fitting snugly around nipped-in waists.”

Reader Rant 1

Pat A.M. fumes: “Nothing is more irritating than to place an item in your online shopping cart and then when you get to the checkout page, you find that either the item has been removed or worst-case scenario your money has been removed from your account. Two or three days later you get an email saying, ‘Sorry we had to cancel your order; we are out of stock.You will get a refund within 5 to 10 business days.’ All this time the company has the use of your funds. There is no reason why the software cannot be set up so if an item is in your cart, you get at least 10 minutes to buy it. If another customer beats you to the checkout line then the company should not take your money!”

Reader Rant 2

From Kathy O.: “Am I the only woman who resents having to pay for expensive slacks that only come in general lengths (short, regular and tall), while men’s pants come in exact lengths almost regardless of how inexpensive or expensive they are? When you pay $100+ for dress slacks, I think you should be able to order the exact length you need. As it is now, I have to pay for the pants, then take them to a tailor who is going to charge me an additional $20 to hem them. Men, on the other hand, can purchase pants at just about any price point and order the exact length they need."

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