I want to talk about one of our most important relationships in our lives. Its not with our families or God. This is on a completely different level of importance. As superficial as it may sound, one can not deny the reverence and metaphorical value that we have with our hairstylist!
Thats right, I said hairstylist. Our stylist can be so many things all in one or at once. They can be our friend, confidant, supporter, life coach, adviser, therapist, etc. They know us in ways we can’t even imagine. They know how to make us look on the outside the way we feel on the inside! Some are born with a special gift that can be shared with their personality and hands, others must learn as they go and grow better in time. Some, follow the wrong dream entirely.
This relation between ourselves and our stylist is surprisingly intimate. I say this because finding the right stylist is just like ordinary dating. I can take months to find the right one. Then when you think you have that right person for you, it takes time to develop a repore and trust! We have our ups and downs with them, and they sometimes make mistakes. But overall, we know they will be there for us and that we can count on them. See, its just like dating. But how you tip is totally up to you…wink,wink!
My stylist is someone very dear to my heart and has been now for the past several years. I consider her family at this point! Her name is Aysha, and this is our story of how we came together. It was a summer day and I had been slaving away at some various house chores that I thought wouldn’t take too long, but they did oddly enough. When I realized the time, it was 4:30pm…ish, I knew that some places were about to close or would be open for probably another hour. Then I remembered how much money was actually on me, another hard realization. I had enough for a standard hair cut and a basic flat rate tip.
Driving just around the corner from my then residence, I pulled up to the closest Great Clips I could find. When I walked in a saw two women working the store. One was a very busy dark haired lady who was already seeing a client. The other was a beautiful blonde who was cleaning her work area. I saw several people in the waiting area who were waiting for the dark haired lady to finish. It was the blonde who greeted me and asked if she could help me today. I said “yes, thank you”
She asked how my day was and if I needed anything to make myself feel more comfortable. She sat me in her chair and, as she draped her smock over me, asked my name. I gave it to her and she replied with “Great Kris, My name is Aysha. What are we going to do today?”
I instantly went into this 4 minute rant about how my hair has always been a pain in my are, how it has a mind of it’s own, how I wish my hair would be more straighter, etc. She smiled and patiently listened the how time. She then asked “Ok Kris, tell me how you have always wanted your hair to be and do?”
Another rant about that, then I told her how I wanted my hair to be this way so that it will end up doing this and blah, blah, blah. Again, Aysha nodded, listening with the patience of a saint and feeling my hair and scalp to see their condition and what she would be working it. When I was done with my word-vomit, I asked ..rather stated “So thats what I want done…Ok?” She smiled wider and without missing a heartbeat stated “No” in a matter of fact way.
I was totally taken back at that response. Also, I was instantly impressed but tried to hide it. I say that because her answer was said with complete confidence (not cockiness), kindness in her voice and sincerity in her eyes. Again, without missing a step Aysha continued with a breakdown of what the difference was between my fantasy image in my head and what I was going to get because of what I was born with!
Aysha explained that anyone can do a simple cutting of hair to get a result, but a real stylist takes into account that your hair is only one of the aspects to your appearance. Your hair can be any color, but it also has to work with your complexion and skin tone. That your God-given bone structure can be accentuated or subdued by a good or wrong hairstyle. And that no matter what is done to the hair; it is you that will truly give it life because of how a person can carry themselves. As Aysha spoke, I did notice that while she was talking she turned my chair around so that I wasn’t facing the mirror anymore.
We continued to talk and share more about hair, ourselves and life during my 20 minute haircut. I realized towards the end that Aysha didn’t explain what she was going to my hair as she was cutting it, and I wondered why I didn’t even notice until now. Before I know it , she was done and turned my around to face the new me.
My jaw hit the floor! Before my eyes was my own reflection seen in a completely different light. It was a good thing! The next words out of my mouth were from the heart.
“Holy S**t!! I’d totally f**k me!”
Aysha turned me into someone I never thought I was or could be. All with the talent that she had and perfected in her yrs of doing great hair. Needless to say, its been a great loving relationship ever since. I still continue to simply sit in her chair and let her work her magic. Its great to have trust in any relationship, especially this one.
I plan to do an interview with her and let her tell you some tips and advice on good hair maintenance. Look for that in the near future.
If you are interested in seeing Aysha yourself; you can call her and make an appointment. Bare in mind, that you should do this 3 wks in advance for her. She is that good people! 😉
She works at Mane Street-Salon located at 1101 N Wilmot Rd. Suite 121. Thats in the shopping center where the Trader Joe’s is located as well on Speedway and Wilmont.
Tony Ray Baker
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Tony Ray
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