Short Cuts: Aah-Haa Moments from Behind the Chair

By gabrielle gwenyth grant

Short Cuts: AAH-HAA MOMENTS FROM BEHIND THE CHAIR is a collection of stories of life in salons and on the road. Everyone gets haircuts, but did you ever consider who your stylist does and what they hear and see on any given day? Ever wonder about the secrets they harbor? After you read Short Cuts you will see your stylist in a whole new light. Be kind to your stylist, after all they are working on your head with sharp objects.

"Short Cuts" is filled with funny stories of what really happens in a salon. Your stylist knows, just ask.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 5, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477277492

gabrielle gwenyth grant

I spent thirty seven years behind the chair. I owned and operated two salons and owned two patents. Everyday was a new challenge. Each client was my new boss. The beauty industry is huge. Everyone gets haircuts and buys shampoo, but there is so much more. My crowning glory was becoming a platform artist for several major companies in the US and Canada. I started in a one chair salon on the farm and ended up on stages all over the United States. I love the beauty industry.

Book preview

© 2012 gabrielle gwenyth grant. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 10/31/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-7748-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-7750-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-7749-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012918652

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

SHORT CUTS AAH-HAA MOMENTS FROM BEHIND THE CHAIR

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

IN THE BEGINNING

CROWNING GLORY

CAUTION FALLING HAIR

DON’T DO YOUR FAMILY

WHO LET THE DOG OUT

UPTIGHT UPDO

ROUND HAT BOYS

BUTT NAKED AND NOWHERE TO GO

MANE TALE

DUCK DUCK GOOSE

WEALTHY AND FAMOUS

ALL FUZZED UP

SWEETIE PIE

HEAD CASE

GIVE ME A BREAK

BIG HEAD

HOT HOT HOT

ABBY

ABBY TO THE GROOMER

MEN MEN MEN MEN MANLY MEN

BASEBALL PLAYERS STRIPPERS AND WRESTLERS…OH MY

ITALIAN ICE

NOT SO YOUNG AND RESTLESS

X’S AND Y’S

BAD DOG HERE’S A BISCUIT

TWINKIE ANYONE?

SHIP HIGH IN TRANSIT

DANCING DUMBELL

ONE UP

TOOTHLESS BEARDED

BIRD LADY

KICKED TO THE CURB

CARNI RATS

CREEPY CRAWLERS

FEELS FINE

SIT STAY

FLYING TANNER

EVEN TAN THERE

ON THE GOOD SHIP LOLLIPOP

WHACK THE WHACKO

CHAINSAW BUZZ

HALLOWEEN WITCH

TURKEYS

CHRISTMAS GIFTS AND TIPS

CHRISTMAS IS WHEN

DEDICATED

FUNDRAISING

FUTURE FUNDRAISER

CLOTHING OPTIONAL

ROCK ON

BRIDES, WEDDINGS AND DADS WHO COME WITH

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

BRIDES DADDY

SHOES

OH LORD GOING TO BUY ME A MERCEDES BENZ

MISMATCHED

BALANCING ACT

BAREFOOT IN SEATTLE

THE BANKERS

BMOC

NONE OF MY AFFAIR

SISTER SISTER

LOVER/LOSER

EASIER TO HIRE THE RIGHT ONE

SPITFIRE

DIRECT LINK

FITNESS CLUB

DUMPSTER DIVING

SITTERS

SNOWED IN WITH THE EVIL SITTER

SEXY SITTER

GIRL NAMED PETE

WHERE AM I?

RECEPTIONISTS

SIGN SIGN

ANKLE BITERS

WHO ARE YOU WORKING FOR?

STRIP CLUB BIRTHDAY

ANGIE ANGIE

RAT TRAP

ALL PLUGGED UP

STYLISTS OR GYPSIES

IN A HURRY

CALLED ME WHAT?

FLYING BRUSHES

BIG BOY

COFFEE ANYONE?

CRAB ATTACK

SABBATICALS

SOLD

SO SUE ME

ON THE ROAD

DINNER AND A SHOW

DRAG QUEEN

WINTER BALL(S)

UP UP AND AWAY

NEW FOUND FRIENDS

TEST SALON

SHOW 2

BAC STAT

BLOW THE LIPS OFF A FISH

BBSI BEAUTY AND BARBER SUPPLY INSTITUTE

BBSI MIAMI

ROTTEN REP

SCHNECK BRUSH

SHUFFLE OFF TO BUFFALO

OOPS

LEAVING ON A JET PLANE

ON THE 45TH FLOOR

WAY DOWN SOUTH

UNI PERM

BOURBON STREET

ST LOUIS

CLIPPED

PETA SOLD HENNER UK (PETER SOLD HENNA US)

ARE WE BORED YET?

BOSTON AND CHOPPING BLOCK

LAST SHOW

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

BLACK AND WHITE

BIG CAT ATTACK

CROSS HAIRS

FAREWELL AUNT E.

NOT THE END

ENTRY FORM

SHORT CUTS AAH-HAA MOMENTS FROM BEHIND THE CHAIR

Ever wonder what your hair stylist hears and sees? After thirty seven years in the beauty industry, I decided to give the customers a glimpse into what goes on in the salon daily. Your stylist knows, just ask.

I always told my new stylists, if you treat your clients like fine crystal goblets instead of McDonalds throw away cups, you’ll have them for a long time. A lot of my clients were with me for thirty years.

Written for your enjoyment

Short Cuts

AAH-HAA MOMENTS FROM BEHIND THE CHAIR

gg

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

THANK YOU TO:

My grandparents for everything, but most of all for making me believe I could do anything.

My husband and children, many long evenings I was in the shop and they had to fend for themselves.

My clients who became friends

My staff, receptionists and sitters

Phyl, Jane, Margaret and all of the other women who gave me a better sense of normal.

Judy, Donna and Genevieve for their encouragement

Agnes Sullivan for the first edit

Mike for the title SHORT CUTS

Mary Gillam for the introductory artwork

Alisa who said, Life is not a dress rehearsal. Now go publish your book.

INTRODUCTION

There’s a lot to be said for not knowing you cannot do something. I didn’t know I couldn’t. Everyone hears and sees a lot of information every day. It’s not what you experience, but how you process what you experience. I can see humor in almost everything, if not today, then tomorrow.

I spent thirty seven years in the beauty industry. Most of that time was spent standing behind a chair, watching and listening. I owned salons and also was a platform artist. A platform artist is someone who is hired by a company to represent their line of products. Platform artists teach new cutting techniques, introduce new products and are motivational speakers.

In all those years behind the chair, you see people through the happiest and the saddest times of their lives. You are there for the recitals, proms, graduations, weddings, births of their children and grandchildren.

You also see them through the losses. Divorces, deaths of parents, grandparents, spouses, friends and sometimes children and grandchildren are all devastating events in someone’s life. Let’s not forget the loss of a pet or a grave illness or injury. Clients share all of these with their stylist. Many times I have been reduced to tears with someone suffering an illness or loss.

Why do people confide in their stylist? It is because of our close contact with a client’s head, face, neck and shoulders. They only allow the people closest to them into that space, except for their Doctor, Dentist and their Stylist. They feel compelled to share things with us that they would not normally share with even their best friends.

Sharing those things while looking in a mirror gives them the feeling of third person contact. They, sometimes, share more than they intended. We are stylists, confidants, pseudo therapists, friends and so much more. I swore the whole time I did hair that someday I would write a book. So, here it is. Please enjoy my perception of life from behind the chair.

My advice to anyone reading this book is:

1. Listen and watch

2. Learn how to process what you hear and see

3. Know when to be a friend and advocate

4. Step outside of your comfort zone

5. Be too dumb to know you cannot do something.

6. Then DO IT! Do what you love and enjoy doing it.

IN THE BEGINNING

I think I might have been destined to be a hairdresser. I can remember being so little that I had to stand on a stool to reach my great grandfather’s head. As he sat in his chair I combed his hair. I tried to be very gentle because I thought he was really old.

I ruined all my dolls hair. Every beautiful doll had been combed out until some of them had little hair left. When the hair got really bad I took the sewing scissors to it. I never took my dolls anywhere. People would take one look and say, What’s wrong with that doll’s hair? I was forbidden to even look at the antique doll that belonged to my great grandmother. They put it up high so I couldn’t get to it.

I loved my grandmother’s fur coat. I combed every head of hair that was available to comb. I combed and brushed the cats, dogs and later all the 4-H animals. I never admitted wanting to be a beautician. I really thought that was beneath me.

Back in those days most hairdressers looked pretty rough. They were always overdone. They wore too much makeup. Their hair was teased up high and they just looked tacky. Not for me. I wanted to do something bigger and better with my life. Of course, just like every other kid, I changed my mind several times, but I was still combing and combing and combing.

I went to college for a short time and spent most of my time cutting hair. At that point, I realized I really did want to be a cosmetologist. My grandparents were totally supportive and provided my first salon. I was only twenty at the time and already a business owner. I did not have a clue what I was doing. Thanks to them I stuck it out and spent thirty seven years in the beauty industry. I loved the beauty industry and still do.

CROWNING GLORY

Hair is our crowning glory. Hair is how we identify people. You might say the slim redhead or the voluptuous blonde or the dynamite brunette. You may not know the color of someone’s eyes, but you nearly always know the color of their hair.

Because hair has been such an important part of our vanity and identity, it is hard not to talk about it. Hair has always been our crowning glory and because of that, it is devastating when we lose it, for any reason. It frames our face and gives color and dimension to our life.

A bad hair day is used in advertising as the worst day you can have. Not true, but perceived as being true and it sells a lot of shampoo and conditioner. You can look at old photos and identify the decade by the hair styles.

I was at TGI Fridays on a Saturday evening years ago. I was in the bathroom and overheard two women talking about their hair. I stayed in the stall to hear their conversation.

One of the women said, My stylist says… I can’t remember what the stylist said, only that this woman trusted and believed her. It was like something her Doctor said to her. The level of importance was amazing to me. It gave me a new perspective into my comments to my clients. I started listening to conversations when I was out. Many women were talking about their hair and their stylist. I became aware that I was training my clientele. Clients think they train their hairdressers. In actuality, your stylist is training you. The difference between a good and a bad haircut is two weeks. Sit up straight and don’t cross your legs. Use this shampoo and conditioner.

Educating a client is the stylist’s responsibility. A good stylist has about thirty minutes during a haircut to educate you. This is time well spent. It can benefit both the stylist and the customer. Imparting our wisdom creates a bond of trust as long as we are honest. It also helps the client to achieve the same look or close to the same look every morning without you going to their house. Your clients are your best advertisement. Word of mouth is also the cheapest advertisement.

CAUTION FALLING HAIR

I had a Doctor’s wife who was a very good client. The Doctor was going bald. I was in the office to see him for a really sore throat. When he finished with me he asked, So what stops falling hair? I responded, The floor. Then I asked him where I should send the bill, the office or home address? He laughed and told me to charge his wife for whatever he owed. That was before all the options we have today for hair restoration. No one, male or female wants to lose their hair, and yet despite our best efforts, it still happens.

DON’T DO YOUR FAMILY

This is probably my number one rule. My dear old grandmother would have been the exception. She was a kind, gentle, good person. The rest of my family members were just a bunch of NUT CASES. Years ago when I first started doing platform work on the road I met a guy from Chicago named Tony Ross.

This guy was great. He was literally as wide as he was tall. He would say he was an animal then snort. The audiences loved him. I tried to get him to cut my hair every time I saw him at a show. His haircuts were so far superior to anyone who cut in my area.

One weekend when I was begging Tony for a haircut, he asked why I didn’t go to Rick in Indianapolis. I didn’t know who Rick was. He told me they were good friends and gave me his number. I think he and Rick were in Intercoiffure International together.

When I called for an appointment there was quite a wait to get in. Tony did not steer me wrong. That was absolutely the BEST haircut I ever had. Rick was on another level of hair cutting expertise than anyone I knew. He had three chairs going all the time. He had a shampoo girl, perm artist and a color artist. All he did was design and cut. He was a hair genius.

When I told him Tony sent me he was thrilled. He and Tony were not related. They shared the same last name and were really good friends. In fact, Rick’s real last name was not Ross at all.

He told me his story once and it was amazing. He loved doing hair. He became one of the most accomplished hairdressers in Indianapolis history. He had a big shop over by Glendale shopping center. Then he set up one on the west side on west 38th St. He reminded me of Horst. He was pale and totally entranced when he worked.

You had to disrobe and put on a smock so he could see your neckline. He would push your head down to get the best cut. When he ran behind I would tell him to go ahead with someone else. I would sit for hours and watch his hair magic. I would go home and imitate his every move to the best of my ability.

One day he did my hair and after the girl blew it dry he came back to finish. He stopped short. He took my head in his hands and studied my face in the mirror. He then leaned down and said, "I’m so sorry. I’ve gotten to know you and I like you. You are not a beautiful woman, attractive, but not beautiful. I gave you a haircut for someone else. He had the shampoo girl wet me down and I got a second haircut. He was right, although at that tender age my feelings were a little hurt. The second haircut was better for me. Not many hairdressers would have admitted that or taken the time to fix it. Genius.

Rick had been asked to judge the Miss Indiana contest at the State Fair, but refused. I was not aware of that when I asked if he would judge our little county fair queen contest. He said he would be glad to come if I would pick him up and take him home so we had time to talk. It was my pleasure.

Rick was found dead not long after that. There were a lot of rumors. I simply could not accept his death as a possible suicide. He and I made plans to fly out to Phoenix to see our old friend Tony in his new salon. He moved there from Chicago for health reasons, as I recall. I didn’t want to believe Rick was gone.

One of the pearls of wisdom Rick bestowed on me was, DON’T DO YOUR FAMILY. Boy, was he right. My mother was a cosmetologist, but as nearly everything else in her life, she didn’t do it, or at least not for long. That did not deter her from telling me how to do it. Those who cannot, tell everyone else how to…

She would show up in my little shop and say something really negative or make fun of me. It’s hard to be confident when your own mother is undermining your every move. I think she was jealous. She had never been successful at anything. She didn’t want any of her