What is it about hair stylists, hairdressers, salon owners, etc. that make you want to spill your guts?!? I’ve been going to one or another hair salon in Connecticut now for years (at least 30 years) and I must say, some of my deepest and most meaningful conversations have been with my stylist. It’s almost like something happens to me when I sit in her (their) chair, it’s almost like all of my inhibitions go out the door and what’s left is talk, raw talk. I can’t explain it, I just know that I feel the need to share and share BIG…
I came of age in the early 70s (pre-Afro days in our house) so natural hair and afro picks were not in yet for the Hollis girls – press and curls were – and we were truly a product of our environment…I’m the one with the yellow blouse and matching yellow headband…my oldest sister Dana was missing in this picture.
Again, I am one of 7 children (5 girls; 2 boys) in a family of 9 and the baby girl at that, so my earliest memory of getting my ‘hair did’ was not going to a salon (we didn’t have that luxury) but waiting most of a Satur(day) in anticipation…You see, on Saturdays the Hollis kitchen became a makeshift hair salon. One sister after another (the oldest to the youngest) sat in the kitchen chair closest to the oven so my mother could easily place the hot comb back and forth (from hair to electric eye). My two brothers didn’t know how good they had it! They had no clue…I can still recall smelling Blue Magic hair dressing and fried hair all day long…Being the baby girl, I was always the last to go which meant that by the time my mother got to me she was not only tired, but cranky. And God forbid someone called on the telephone during my time in the chair! I was in for some neck burnings then! Consequently, I do not have fond memories of these two things:
So, fast forward to today, one of my favorite ways to pamper myself is to get my hair done once a week. Elite Hair Salon in Westville, CT is my salon of choice now and they come highly recommended (smile).
