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Beauty is as Beauty Does
Hair salons have come a long way. When I was a young girl, they were simply known as "Beauty Parlors." Today, we go to hair salons, hair stylists, or hair designers. The term "beauty parlor" is passe, archaic, and certainly dates you. The beauty parlor in an era gone by, specialized in hair and manicures only. In those days, hair perms were given under a contraption that looked like something from an electrocution chamber — thick electrical wires hanging down with curlers attached and current running through. One never saw a man in this "chamber of beauty." Real men went to a barber shop. I have to admit, I always felt a little out of place, when I had to invade barber shop privacy on days my two sons needed haircuts. The beauty parlor, on the other hand, was strictly a woman’s world. Conversations involved child rearing, radio soap operas, knitting, crocheting, etc. Am I dating myself or what? Today, hair salons are quite different. They serve everyone — men, women, and children. Some are rather posh offering coffee and cake while others even serve wine and cheese. Many are full service salons. Here you can get a manicure, a pedicure, waxing, a facial, a massage and more. Some salons call themselves "spas." At these luxury spas, you can spend an entire day being pampered, — not to mention spending an incredible amount of money. At one time, the beautician did it all. Not now. You have some hair stylists doing the cutting, a colorist doing the color, a beauty consultant giving a facial, or a therapist giving you a massage. A friend of mine, a well-respected hair colorist in Boca Raton, has clients (women and I dare say, a few men) come to him from Dade County to Vero Beach and all points between. It’s an era of specialization. At one time there was even a "Nail Institute" in Pompano Beach. I now have my hair done at a salon less than a mile away. It is a throwback to the 50' - - Irene’s house of Beauty. For months I wondered why I had this feeling of deja vu each time I set foot in this private home with a salon addition. Then, it came to me. It was a replica of the salon in the movie, Steel Magnolias. This home/salon is equipped with three dryers, two sinks, old dark wood cabinets, a breakfront, and a tiny black & white TV set. The owner, is not a Dolly Partonesque look-a-like but she does exhibit some of her characteristics and personality. While the place looks like the old fashion beauty parlor, the clients and the conversation are far different from days gone by. No idle soap opera chit chat. No cutesy nice-nice talks. Here you can have a really heated discussion on politics and issues of the day. One woman, who has the appointment before mine is a consummate reader and spends her time under the dryer reading. Oh that’s another thing — your hair gets washed, set with rollers, and then it’s under a dryer for a half an hour or so. No blow drying at this place. It’s the best of both worlds — old fashion know how and conversation with liberated, assertive, and civic minded women.
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PS: Update - - alas this beauty shop no longer exists - - the Partonesque character, Irene, in my article has passed on. However, I do remember her with great affection.
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