Hair Evolution

In April of this year, I celebrated three years since traveling to New York City to train at Devachan Salon. I can't estimate how many curly heads I've worked on since then, but I can say that every one has been unique and a gift.

As I've grown as a stylist I've also worked to keep rooted in what inspires me to do hair, beyond the creative outlet. Helping my clients to feel like and BE their authentic selves is absolutely paramount to my work. When I talk to clients about my background in feminism and social justice and how it plays into hair, they all get it. This is not some abstract concept that you have to deconstruct piece by piece to understand. Our hair is part of who we are, and- like it or not- it is a signifier of many things about us. Most of us desire to have our outside be a reflection of our inner self in the day-to-day, even if it's an ever-evolving and revolving self.

This leads into why I also LOVE working on clients who identify as genderqueer, trans, butch, femme, andro, or anything above and beyond a dualistic gender code. It's a feeling that a lot of curly clients can relate to-- walking into a salon and having the stylist judge you, judging your hair, your appearance, your voice, your clothing. I pledge every day to make my chair a safe and welcoming space. Every client is entitled the full realization of her/his authentic self, no exceptions.

I'm writing this particular post partly because it is Pride month (and I'm further inspired) and partly because it simply needs to be said: Your hair is your right. Whether curly, straight, wavy, mixed, textured, short, long, avant-garde, classic, professional, casual, butch, femme, genderqueer, whatnot-- your hair is YOUR RIGHT.

Enjoy it and celebrate it. :)

Exciting News Forthcoming....

I plan to have something to announce to the blog on Saturday or Sunday, that will involve all of you...

Stay tuned!!

Humor in Hair...

One of the best things about my job is that I get to laugh a lot.  When one sits in the stylist’s chair, the various goings-on of the past few weeks come pouring out, often with a great deal of shared humor.  But the one thing that all of my clients seem to have a great sense of humor about is their curls.  This, to me, is no coincidence.

            When one grows up as a curly kid, we get noticed because of it.  From adults it is usually favorable (until you reach a certain age and a few people get it into their head that curls aren’t “appropriate” for a grown, professional woman or man).  From fellow children it can be a mix that ranges from envy to curiosity to taunting.  A lot is often assumed about the kid with curly hair—she/he’s going to be a bit quirkier, a bit nuttier.  When you get older and start getting real haircuts, you get used to hearing the phrases “it will grow out” and “it doesn’t look that bad, honey.”  You might cry a bit, but you learn to toughen up after a few of these haircuts and roll with the punches, as it were.

            As an adult, your hair is often one of the first indicators used to describe you.  You are often known as the “friend with the curls.”  At this point, if you have grown to not only accept but love your hair, you wear this label with pride.  If you then find a stylist who understands and respects curls, you will eventually relay your entire hair history to her.   And if she also has curls she’ll relay her own stories right back to you.  But we all do this with a knowing look and a slightly sarcastic grin.  This is a common, shared history. 

            When people ask me about my clients, one of the first things I think of to describe them as a whole is “personality.”  Each one of my clients has one or several hair horror stories to tell, and I in turn will share my own.  Laughing and joking about it helps us realize that in the end we are the ones victorious, for we have thrown down the round brush and flat iron, looked our crazy, curly self right in the mirror and laughed our head off in celebration.