Guest blogger: Nan Macomb, a character from DEATH BY GRAMMY
Hi guys,
I’ve been so busy slipping out between appointments to watch the Summer Olympics I almost forgot it was my turn to blog,
I don’t keep a television in my salon. It’s a tiny space—as in one-client-at-a-time tiny. I have a shampoo chair, a work chair and a chair for the color processor/dryer. I suppose I could mount a flat screen high on the wall, but if my clients were watching TV, I might miss out on some of Nashville’s best gossip—gossip I’d never repeat, of course, especially on a blog. I prefer jazz or classical music playing softly in the background. Installing overhead speakers was one of the best investments I ever made. I’ve found quiet music inspires conversation.
Back when I was growing up, my mom and even my grandmother colored their hair because the whole concept had a stigma attached to it. They either did it themselves at home or made a big deal about getting the last appointment of the day so no one would see them at the beauty shop. I remember my mom once talking her hair stylist into opening her shop at night so no one would see her getting her roots done. There was even a TV ad for Clairol with the tag line, “hair color so natural only her hairdresser knows for sure.” Whatever.
Pretty much everybody gets their hair colored these days and don’t care who knows it. Men, women, teenagers. Highlights. Lowlights. Twilights. I like to use foil and I tear my own. Why pay for foil strips when I can make them myself? I will also balayage (hand paint) some clients’ hair, and sometimes I use both foil and balayage on the same person. It just depends. One thing you can count on: I will never, ever, use a cap. I had my hair pulled through one of those things once and vowed on the spot I wouldn’t have them in my shop. I don’t believe in torture and I’m betting it’d hurt me as much to do it (I’m pretty squeamish) as it’d hurt my client.
I trained in NYC the year after I graduated from college. I wanted to go straight to cosmetology school after high school, but my parents insisted I go to college. The deal was if I graduated, they’d let me go wherever I wanted. Of course, they thought I’d change my mind, but I’m a stubborn sort. I majored in business, then went to New York to learn from the best. They said wherever I wanted. Then I came back to Nashville and set up my own shop.
True, I work out of my home, but I did that to keep my overhead low. I decided I wanted a one-woman shop and I created a niche market. I’ve got a client list some of the bigger salons would kill for. I offer privacy and anonymity. I keep up on the latest trends and, if I do say so myself, I’m pretty well-known here in Nashville. I don’t even have a listed number any more. All of my clients are by referral.
Well, I think I’ve rambled on enough for today’s post. I’d planned to write about the Olympics. Funny how these blogs take on a life of their own, isn’t it?
I think Loralee will be up next Friday. I’ll be back in three weeks.
TTFN,
~Nan
