I've blogged occasionally on my website but thought I would try this venue. Since I want it to be more than just salon stories, although I have a lot of those.
I own a salon in Oklahoma City. We have a song about the blowing wind that comes sweeping down the plains. The state, not the salon, although after 30 years of standing behind a chair, I've seen and heard a lot of wind.
30 years in the salon makes me a "seasoned" stylist. One of the companies I work with said so after I attended a class recently and said "See, you can teach an old dog new tricks"! To which she replied, "We like to think of you as seasoned, not old" Works for me. Although I love to cook, so now I compare myself to a well seasoned pot of stew. Filled with many good things, but definitley comfort food. That's me. Comfort. With clients ranging from 1 to 100, I have seen it all, heard it all and would love to share my shampoo bowls full of tales from behind my chair.
In my 30 years in a salon I have many times thought I could write a book. There have been a few TV shows but they never quite depicted the reality of a salon. Then there is "Tabitha Takes Over", where she goes in a salon with major problems and takes over for a week, thrashing those not doing a job right and at least once a week bringing someone to tears. For many that might be entertaining, but if some Australian gal walked in tell me to F-ing get my act together I would escort her to the door. Camera crew and all. I do watch it though. Never hurts to learn something new.
This blog will allow me to tell some fun stories, sad stories, successes and quite a few failures, with salons and family but hopefully I want to assist you in seeing a side of a business you should find enjoyable.
The beauty industry is full of egos, arrogance and greed. It's also full of talent, kindess and generosity.
When you work with people one on one, you learn a lot. During the one to 3 hours you are with a client, you become a therapist, spiritual guide, doctor, priest, lawyer and confidant.
I started in this business working for a brilliant, talented Austrian bitch. Seriously, I learned so much from her, but she was hell on wheels if you wrote an appointment down on her books wrong or if she just got out of the wrong side of bed. More about her. I will share her name though. Nelly Bollenberg. The first stylist I worked for, one of the most brilliant and I want to thank her for what she taught me, although she also taught me how I didn't want to be.
If you are a stylist, please share your own experiences. If you are a client, I would love to hear from your side of the chair. If you are anyone else, join in.
In ending, I love what I do. I have loved it since I left a beauty school ( Glamour Beauty Academy in Richfield, Minnesota ) that refused to teach blow drying since they believed it was a "passing fad". How many times have I wanted to go back and ask them when they changed that. That was the early 70's my friends. I've seen styles come, styles go and now they are back with a new twist.
We have so much to talk about.
DS
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