Carly

I've only met Carly twice. The first time she came in, it was for a haircut. Her hair was at her waist. No, she didn't let me cut it off, but wanted a trim.

She was from Michigan. She moved states away to get away from her abusive husband. She is an LPN who travels to the elderly and takes care of them at their homes. She was now dating a man whom she met in highschool.

On the next visit (highlights- yes, all over that LONG hair)  she opened up to me even more. Apparently she hadn't seen her family in 3+ years. Her husband was looking for her. She said that her husband started drinking a few years back, and that is when the abuse started. She felt so alone, didn't have any children, and her family stopped talking to her. At that time she started to accumulate animals. Any stray she found, she would keep them (she was trying to get me to take one of 5 kittens she had from her neighbors cat) She had horses, a goat, reptiles, cats, 5 or more dogs, a squirrel, turtles, you name it; she had it.

anyways.

She signed up on facebook, and found her old love. He talked her into leaving her husband, and said to move in with him. One day, she packed up everything she had, and moved. She was devastated to leave her animals behind.

Now that she is here, she said things are better, only the new boyfriend isn't so nice to her; and she has started accumulating animals again, which makes him extremely mad at her.

She has a brother, who lives in Florida.. apparently he met a prostitute who is in her twenties (hes at least 40) and takes care of her, and her son. The prostitute meets men and women in bars and goes home with them, and he apparently stays at home and watches her son. Carly said she went to visit him, and his girlfriend wouldn't let Carly stay in their house, and when she came to visit the girlfriend stole money from her.

Carly's brother owns his own motorcycle shop, worth alot of money, and just recently revised his will so this young girl gets everything. He has 3 kids who will not be happy once they find this out. Carly was stressed out becuase they were supposed to be getting married in July, (this conversation took place in June) and she didn't think she would ever see her brother again.

Carly is very sweet. Comes from a rough background, but has so much potential. She is extremely lonely and covers her loneliness by getting animals. She feels like she is saving them; but in a way, they are saving her.

She is in over her head- Went from one jerk to another.. has no family; is stuck. I really hope she changes her life around for the better, and deals with her inner demons.

Carmen

Carmen is a sweet, but fiesty older woman who comes in every month. She keeps her hair very short, and if you want to get her talking, you talk about her sugar gliders.

She has over 40 of them! 

Last month poor Carmen had to have heart surgery. Thankfully she is better now. One day she brought a sugar glider into the salon so I could see it!

Sami

Sami is a color client of mine. She is middle aged, and is a nurse.

When I first met her I thought she was just the average client. That was before she started smoking in my chair.
To my horror, she showed me that she wasn't smoking a real cigarette but an electronic one that only gave off steam. Tell that to the salon- everyone looked at her like she was crazy.

Sami's husband died about a year ago. She claims it gave her a second chance at life, but I really don't think Sami needs one; for she has been living a double life. She hid a serious gambling addiction from her husband for 10 years. Thankfully she has good luck, and it hasn't caught up to her. She told me she is always winning big- the most she has ever lost was $25,000. Yes, if you are normal, you'll cringe at that number like me.

Sami says she and her husband never got along... They are both Italian, and from Brooklyn. They moved shortly after 9/11. They had lost friends that day, and even a family member. They have only been back a handful of times since. Sami has a mouth on her. Anytime she would come in I would have to position her away from the salon, becuase she has the worst potty mouth I've ever heard on someone.

Sami and I shared a birthday together. She always talked about getting together but the truth is, as much fun she was in my chair, I'm not so sure I could keep up with her.

Mermaid Lady

 

I have a client who I absolutely adore. I call her the Mermaid Lady. I won't even bother you with her name; becuase that is truly what I call her.

The first time she went in to see me, she had left her boyfriend. She is about 45 years old, looks like she probably has lived a hard life. She walked in, wearing a white spaghetti strap shirt, and daisy dukes.

She told me she needed a change. She was so tired of being controlled for years. She has two sons. One just graduated highschool, the other is just getting into highschool. Her last boyfriend was always picky about the way she did her hair, and would always tell her she could only get highlights.

I sat her in my chair, and draped her with a cape, put my hands on her shoulders, and asked her what she wanted. She proceeded to tell me she needed something fun. Something to really represent her independence.

To her, this was blue.

We decided to add a chunky streak of blue right at her part on the top of her head. we then foiled a few blue streaks near her bangs, and on the sides of her face. She loved it. She told me she felt free- like a bird. So pleased to have done something she wanted for a change. It wasn't about the crazy hair color, it was about her new life... alone!

During our visit, she told me that she can't work due to a car accident she had 10 years ago. It really has messed up her back, so she can't sit or stand for too long. We talked the whole time she was in my chair. She told me about concerts she went to when she was younger, how she was ready to party now that she was single again.

She didn't get her nickname on this occasion though.

A few days later I saw her name on my books again. She came in, and told me she was ready for a SECOND color in her hair. "A second?!" I asked her. "yes, everyone is loving my new haircolor, I am ready to keep going with it"

so then we added hot pink streaks as well. Since we were going that crazy, we decided to go even crazier and I added some turquoise streaks. We talked, and talked... I was getting a high from this new woman in my chair. She was so excited... so full of life. Not a care in the world- the feeling was contagious.

before she left I told her she was my Mermaid. I thanked her for the fun opportunities she gave me with doing her hair. Its not every day I can get artsy and do whatever I want.

A week later she came in with her friend, Jess. Apparently Mermaid Lady had rubbed off on her... She had left her lying, cheating, no good husband and was currently crashing at Mermaid Lady's shell.

They told me the night before they were just at home, listening to the music that was popular when they were in highschool; they danced on the couches while they sipped on margaritas, and wine coolers. They had their own little sleepover. The both were in the highest most carefree spirit. Jess wanted pink highlights. Not hot pink, but a pink that would blend real nicely with her light brown hair.

while her hair was processing, we laughed, and talked... it was like I knew these women for years.

I composed a plan. Both women had lots of tattoos. I told them they needed to get another- a mermaid - and not tell a single soul what the mermaid stood for.

They loved the idea.

Mermaid lady has came to me very often now. She still wants her tattoo, but has gotten very sick. She told me the doctor has diagnosed her with Hepatitis C. :(

I did however find some temporary tattoos of mermaids. I have one in my station waiting for her- the next time she comes and sees me.

Millie

 

There is a woman who comes into our salon every month. She is elder, and has Alzheimer's disease.  She is accompanied by her daughter, Janet who lives out of state.

Millie is about 80 years old. She has two children, and is a widow. In her prime she was a pediatric nurse. She loved children very much. 9 years ago she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Five years ago she forgot who everyone was. Now she lives in a nursing home; gets visited often by her daughter, and her son.

I will never forget the first time I met her.

She has the whitest hair, and the most beautiful face. Her skin is as thin as paper; so she is very easily bruised, or cut. In fact, she had a bandaid on her right arm, and a bandage around her leg due to her cuts. In her arms she was holding a life like baby doll. It was a boy, and his name was Benjamin. As she sat in her wheel chair, she was patting his back, and taking breaks to give him a kiss on his cheek. Benjamin is the name of her son. She remembers his name.. And cherishes the baby doll as though it is real.

She was on my books for a facial, manicure, and pedicure.

Janet wheeled her into the facial room, and told me that she would not be able to lay down on the bed. I told her it was not a problem. Janet told me she would stay in the room during the facial. She explained to me what her mother had, and that she has to be constantly reminded where she was, and what she was doing. Sadly Millie didn't remember who Janet was.

Millie held Janet's hand, then rested her head back, and I proceeded to clean her face. I dipped my sponges in warm water, and glided them across her soft beautiful skin. She didn't have a wrinkle on her. I proceeded with the facial, and she began to drift away into a relaxing state.

When the facial was about half way over, Janet leaned close to her mother and said the most beautiful things I would never forget.

"You are very loved."

Millie nodded at this. I am not sure whether or not she even knew what Janet was really saying. Janet proceeded to kiss her mother on her forehead.


I couldn't help but choke. I turned back to my bowl of warm water and screamed at myself inside to hold it together. The truth is, I have never seen something so personal.. so moving by a stranger. I felt like they were in their own little world together, and I was invited into Millie's world to witness this love.

After the facial was over, we started on the pedicure. During it, Millie looked at me, smiled, and said "This feels very nice". Janet told me that Millie hardly talks. She will say "yes, certainly" or "this/that is very nice". Most of the time she looks at you in a soft stare. Some of the time she will nod at you when you talk.

During the pedicure Janet took out a fish sandwich and fries, and fed it to her mother.

When I started her manicure, I clipped her nails shorter, than painted them with a clear polish. During her manicure I gave her a hand massage. Benjamin layed on the table next to us, and Janet was near always to talk to her mother, tell her how much she is loved... how beautiful she is. She even reminisced with her mother about the time Millie was at her beach house, running up and down the beach with her grandson. She told a story about how Millie and him were playing Frisbee, and the wind took hold of the Frisbee and it went lost at sea.

Janet lives states away, and flies in every month. She takes Millie for her spa day, spends a weekend with her, and gets back to the west coast. She has been taking her to my salon every month for 5 years.

Janet ended up getting a manicure too, by someone else.

Millie kept jumping while I clipped her nails. I dont think she liked it much. during her hand massage there were a few times that she gripped my hand, and held it. Almost letting me know how much she appreciated my time with her. After the manicure Millie fell asleep.

Janet went and got a facial while I sat with Millie. When Millie woke up I got magazines, and began to read them to her. We read all the new smut, read how to dress for fall, and how to decorate a small bedroom to make it big. Millie never said anything. She nodded, and smiled.

Millie had another appointment with another stylist in the salon. She was getting a perm. While they were waiting, I couldn't help but stare at the bond between Millie and Janet. Janet was so persistent on letting her mother know how much she was loved. It was almost as if she was savoring every single second with her mother, as it would be her last. She has been this committed for 5 years now. When I told her how good of a daughter she has been, and how her love really shows, she responded

"I do this for my mother, becuase she was the greatest woman I have ever known. She would do the same  for me and more."

About Me.

People call me Miss. I have been doing hair since 2005. I have retold so many of my clients stories to people. Sometimes I feel as though I am something more than a hairstylist. Sometimes I'm just an ear; sometimes an advice giver; heck, sometimes people think I am God and that I can just solve all their problems. Not just their hair color.

I have had about every type of client you can think of. Homeless, stay at home moms, stay at home dads, lawyers, senators, nfl player wives, animal rights activists, vegans, lesbians, gays, you name it, they've been in my chair.

Some of these people I have grown to be very much attached to. I have done alot of appearance changing on these people; but it has gone beyond all that. I've been their window. People have told me their lifes' inner secrets. These people have changed me, and who I am today.

So you might be wondering, why am I starting a blog revealing these secrets? Because some of these secrets need to be told. Some of the things I have witnessed are life changing. Some are funny. Some are scandelous. 

All names, places, and events are subject to change in my stories to protect their identities. Read on. :)

Miss