things you never knew about your hairstylist....

I've been a hairstylist almost 19 years and have worked for the same corporation for 18 of them. I've learned alot about the business through the years but I think I've learned more about people in general.....

It's funny how some people have these preconceived notions about hairstylists-- like that we always carry our scissiors around with us. How many times have I gone to a social gathering and been asked, "hey, can you trim my bangs?" Of course when I start laughing and the "joke" they just made, they do too...but they're serious alright. Some people even act like they are doing me a favor by offering to "let" me do their hair on my day off so i can "keep all the money"....really?? Even my hubby when we first got married thought he'd "help" me make more money by lining up some of his distant cousins for me to work on on my day off. Needless to say, that never happened and now if anyone asks him about me he gives them my work number. He was a farmer at the time so I asked him to go plant a garden for someone on Sunday......he got the message and never tried to "help" me again. What's funny is you may think these people I'm talking about are my family but they're not....my family is the best at respecting my time off and getting their hair done when it's convenient for me....that makes me glad to do it! Especially since they all think I'm awesome....I've never gotten a single complaint from anything I've done for them. Unfortunately for them, though , sometimes they go around with shaggy hair way too long before it gets done.

Another thing people think about us is the fact that we can do ANYTHING with YOUR hair.....when you're middle aged and have short thick straight hair and bring me a picture of Taylor Swift?? come on! really?? I love that Ashley Judd movie (i forgot the name of it) and she's in jail and doing the inmates hair and this ugly lady brings her a pic of a movie star......she say's "honey, the only way you're gonna look like that is if I staple this picture to your forehead!" hahaha--I LOVE IT!! It's flattering that they have so much faith in us but that corny little saying "I'm a beautician, not a magician" is very true.

All jokes aside, I must tell you that I LOVE my clients!! Many of them have become very good friends of mine. Sometimes they'll stop by the salon just to tell me something big that's happened in their life. I've had some move away (army town) for 3-4 years and then call me when they move back and we pick up where we left off. I have one that I gave his first haircut....now he's graduating. I have some that I've seen through chemo, shaved their hair off...and then trimmed it into a style as it gradually grew back in. I have some awesome christian clients that I've exchanged prayer requests with. I've had some clients who have passed away......Being a hairstylist is more than just a job--it's more than just a service I provide for people....I've become just as an important part of their lives as they have mine. I try to remember that whenever I start getting burnt out and needing a vacation.....all in all, I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing for a living so I guess it's my calling :)


P.S. don't call us "beauticians", we hate that...it's soooo 1950! ;)