When I think of my years as a cosmetologist a wave of emotion comes crashing down upon me. The many experiences I was privileged to have and the incredible clients I had the pleasure of working with left an indelible mark on my mind. When I think of the clients that were so loyal to me I can't help but to realize how truly blessed I have been in my life. These people not only kept food on my table, they shared their most intimate stories and thoughts, and showed their genuine love for me and my family. They knew I was always there when they needed a friend and I knew that they were always there for me as well.
As a hairdresser you wear many hats. You are an artist, a chemist, a doctor of hair, skin, and nails, a therapist, and a confidant. It's kind of like being a priest, in that, what's said in your booth stays in your booth! In the salon I worked in we basically saw everyone from the Mayor to the most inconsequential member of our little community. But when they walked in the booth they became the most important people in the world, no matter who they happened to be.
It seems that that if anything exciting or out of the ordinary was happening around town somehow they would be tied in some way to our salon. We had the inside track to all of the births, the deaths, the weddings, the separations, and definitely every scandal that happened within the confines of our city! We never knew when one of our clients was going to hit the front page of the paper or be the top story on the news. There were definitely some unbelievable moments! We had the best and the brightest, some of the local celebrities, and even one or two of the "infamous" characters sit in our chairs at one time or another for a quick cut and a "therapy" session. It's true that your hairdresser is privy to the most intimate details of your life!!!
I miss my work so much I even dream about it during the night! I was able to enjoy many aspects of the art, from competitions, to teaching, to the ability to be crazy and creative all at the same time, to the many hair shows I participated in, and most of all just to making my clients feel good about themselves. I did charity cut-a-thons for many organizations, for my daughter's school functions, to just giving someone a haircut on the house when they needed a lift. I used everything I ever learned in life while practicing the art of cosmetology.
I'm going to post a photo of one of my favorite creations I developed with my partner Naomi, for the California On Parade competition in 1991. Kathy was my all-time favorite model. This was our version of "The Bride Of Frankenstein." Her dress was macrame hair. Instead of tying knots however, I secured each section with wire. The dress itself weighed at least 20 lbs. I rented the short film, "THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN," from the county library and Kathy watched it over and over in order to learn the "walk." When her music was queued she came to life! She was carrying a bouquet of black roses and half way down the run way she threw it into the audience. Naomi had this incredible "banshee scream" that she let loose with from the back of the room. The lights were even queued to give the effect of lightning. Needless to say "THE BRIDE" was a hit!! Now Halloween is coming up on us and I'm sure some of you are looking for the perfect costume. Do you think this might work?!!!!
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