Hairdressers’ lives a cut above

  • Reader Column / Reader Column
  • Tuesday, January 15, 2002 9:00pm
  • Local News

BY KELLEY ROSS

I want to send a message to all hairdressers, hair engineers, beauty operators, beauticians or whatever job title fits for today.

Put down your scissors and combs and rejoice in our profession.

Kelley Ross

I have been doing hair for a long time. Long enough to see styles go from afros to the current greasy, messy look. Long enough to encounter about every walk of life at all ages.

And the stories we hairdressers could tell.

Like when a non-English-speaking family came to have all their hair cut. I was cutting the daughter’s hair, which was half bleached and half dyed orange. I was almost done before I realized the girl had lice. Was that ever hard to explain to her parents.

There are many long hours on our feet, many cut fingers — mostly from wiggly children — to working Saturday after Saturday while family weddings and missed garage sales go on.

We shampoo and condition until our shoulders ache. We inhale our lunch and sometimes just don’t eat. We smile while this hair and that hair is not in its proper place, so says the client.

We slop dye, drop bleach on our shoes and go home feeling like a hair ball.

How do we get rid of clients we don’t want to do anymore?

Well, I have this infamous letter. It’s short, sweet and to the point. Boy, does it work. Clients have a choice not to come back to me. I should have the same choice.

There have been times when I have been so burned out that one more head of hair was about enough to send me over the edge.

Then the Sept. 11 disaster happened, and that set me to thinking — enough complaining, we hairdressers have it made.

No one tells me what time to go to work or lays me off (I lease a station). No one tells me what days I can and cannot have off.

I have wonderful job security, because hair always grows. Computers do not cut hair — a favorite saying of mine. I can take the most unruly head of hair and make it look beautiful.

I get to tell jokes, hear jokes, laugh and cry with my clients, who after so many years of loyalty become dear friends. You can also do hair almost anywhere. Have scissors, will travel.

What am I leading up to?

After 25 years of doing hair, I am truly grateful for the profession I picked. I will probably always do hair in one way or another.

I can always make money at it, as much or as little as I choose. How many people can say that about their work?

But mostly I want to say to all who are in the business, aren’t we lucky? Life is good for us. I am truly thankful.

Kelley Ross of Everett cuts hair at A Wild Hair in Lynnwood. A native of Washington state, she is married to an Everett firefighter, and they have four grown children.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

Two students walk along a path through campus Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. A group of nearly 20 community groups are planning to study how to make it easier for young people to find jobs. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Goal for Everett coalition: Make it easier for young people to find jobs

The organizations hope the months-long process will improve access to resources for young people.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.