US Hairways: Snippets from a Hairdresser's Journey

By Tonya Reid

"This is not the book I thought I was going to write."

~Tonya Reid

Life is like that sometimes, isn't it? We head down one path only to find ourselves in a completely different direction

• Language: English
• Publisher: Synergy Publishing Group
• Release date: Oct 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9781960892089

Tonya Reid

Tonya Reid is a hairdresser by trade who has always had a knack for entertaining and storytelling. When people meet her, they feel like they've known her forever. She is the embodiment of Southern Hospitality. She says out loud what others only dare to think. She's the one that will tell you about the broccoli in your teeth or hand you a tissue for the bat hanging in your cave. You'll never have to wonder if she's in the room because you'll hear her laughing long before you see her. She has an unparalleled affection for wiener dogs, being irreverent, looking like she got dressed in the dark, getting to the heart of the matter, dropping "F" bombs, and eating anything with butter. Tonya and her husband, Billy Reid, live in Charlotte, NC where they raised four amazing sons. Being off-the-charts extroverted and passionate about supporting others' dreams, she is a powerful writer, speaker, and consultant. Connect with Tonya on Instagram @thetonyareid

Book preview

Front_Cover_US_Hairways.jpg

US Hairways: Snippets from a Hairdresser’s Journey

Tonya Reid

Copyright ©2023 Tonya Reid. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Published by Synergy Publishing Group, Belmont, NC

Cover by Arielle Torkelson

Interior by Melisa Graham

Softcover ISBN 978-1-960892-07-2

E-book ISBN 978-1-960892-08-9

Dedicated to my father, Bill Duane.

Thank you for the gifts you left. My sense of humor and quick wit, my bullshit meter, my craft, my gift of gab, and even this damn nose that has taken 5 decades to grow into! See you on the other side!

Contents

Introduction: Which Way Do I Go?

Bookends 3

Neon Signs 7

Coming Full Circle 13

PART I: Away We Go

Everyday I’m Hustlin, Hustlin 19

Beauty School Dropout,

Go Back to High School 25

Perspective 31

Can You Believe She Calls It That? 37

Part II: I Gotta Go

The Cat’s Meow 43

The Second Coming 47

Daddio Day Care 51

Lie at 11:00 59

Has Anyone Seen a Three-Legged

Dog Around Here? 63

It’s Fun ’Til It’s Not 67

Part III: Where’d He Go?

Pout Much? 73

This Isn’t Going to End Well, Is It? 77

Dog & Pony Show 81

His Way 85

Only Your Hairdresser Knows for Sure 89

Green Isn’t Very Becoming On You 97

Life Is Magical, Mystical,

and Stevie Wonderful 101

Epilogue 107

Acknowledgments 109

About the Author 112

Introduction:

Which Way Do I Go?

Bookends

Standing in line balancing a stack of newly purchased books, my heart rate and butterflies increase as I inch my way to the table where one of my literary heroes sits. As I watch him interact with fans and sign book after book, my mind is simultaneously racing and devoid of any coherent thought!

Oh Gawd! Oh Gawd! Oh Gawd! It’s almost my turn! Think of something to say quickly!

I relinquish my books to the author, and I start sputtering, It’s so nice to meet you. You have been the bookends to the pandemic for me. My son, Porter, gave me tickets for Christmas in 2019 to see your show. Your show was one of the last events we attended in January 2020 before lockdown. He gave you to me again for my birthday today. It’s the first big public event I’ve attended since the world has opened back up.

Is it hot in here? Does anyone have a hair tie?

My words tumble out faster as I divulge, I started writing during lockdown. I’m a hairdresser. I’ve always been a storyteller, shooting the breeze with clients. When we stopped doing hair, I found this new outlet, and I’m writing a book.

This National Treasure looks up from signing and genuinely interested asks, What are you going to call it?

Could someone please turn down the thermostat for Christ’s sake? It’s a wonder the sprinkler system hasn’t gone off! This is getting real! I am really putting myself out there telling this World Renowned Wordsmith what I’m up to!

My mouth suddenly filled with marbles, and I mumbled, "Oh my title is not very good. It’s just a working title. It’s something like Lessons I’ve Learned and Stories I’ve Shared from Behind the Chair."

The Grammy-nominated, internationally acclaimed icon stops me in my tracks and suggests, "Hmmmm. It needs to be shorter. Something punny. I like puns. Something like US Hairways or O’Hair even."

He wishes me well as I retrieve my books. Thanking him profusely, I turn to leave, not even certain my feet are making contact with the floor. My husband, Billy Reid (Yes, I am aware that I call him by his first and last name. I always have. Unless, as he tells people, he’s in trouble, and then he’s just Billy.), relieves me of my treasure trove and says, Well there you have it. When David Sedaris names your book, you go with it.

My head is still reeling as I settle into the car. I peek inside my signed copy of Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk and read To Tonya, You deserved better for your birthday –David Sedaris.