Hairstylist has changed with the times
By Lynn Zerschling Journal staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, January 03, 2007
When a customer walked into a styling salon in the 1970s, the pungent odor of ammonia stung the nostrils -- thanks to those permanent wave hair solutions.
Stylists ratted women's hair to within an inch of it's natural life. Cans of hair spray gave their all to cement those bouffant styles in place. Not even a 25 mph wind gust could dislodge a curl.
"We did a lot of 'up-dos.' It was those old-time petal curls," stylist Sheryl Stusse of Sioux City recalled. "Some times we'd pin those curls in or just laid them on top of their heads. Many women wore those French twists. They only came in once a week and expected it to last all week long. Often they never combed their hair in between appointments."
In the 21st century, the natural look is in style. Products that are environmentally friendly are preferred. The styles and the way the business operates has changed dramatically since Stusse started her hairdressing career 37 years ago.
Yet, the one thing that has stayed the same is customer service.
"This is one of only a few professions where you touch a customer, in addition to health care," she said. "That touch is what establishes that trust."
Like the old-time barber, a bartender or a doctor, customers often tell their stylist their most intimate secrets -- from relationship problems to on-going job disputes.
"They spill their guts!" Stusse quipped, throwing back her head and giving her characteristic, infectious laugh.
She lends an ear, offers advice if asked and updates her customers on what hair styles and products are best for them as they sit in her chair at Belle Touche Salon & Day Spa, located in the Perry Creek Plaza.
Her interest in all things hair began at Heelan High School. Her friends asked her to give them a new look, using those old-time frosting kits. She isn't sure why they thought she could do a good job, but she found she had a knack for it.
After graduating from Heelan in 1970, she selected the one-year program at Stewart's School of Hairdressing.
"We had to take 2,100 hours of classes, which was required by state law. As I recall, it cost me $650. Now, it costs students from $12,000 to $16,000 a year. Unbelievable."
The Stewarts' students took classes in theory as well as practiced their techniques on customers.
"For color, it was all bleach back then. Only a very few people tinted their hair darker. The hardest thing to learn was to figure out what the customer wanted," Stusse recalled.
After graduation, she was assigned to work at Stewart's Salon in the Sunset Plaza, now home to the Marketplace Shopping Center.
During the 1970s, the "in" styles were those bouffant hair styles. Thirty-seven years later, Stusse said a few women still want that style that requires using hair rollers, hot dryers and all that back combing.
"The Dorothy Hamill look was huge," she said of the bobbed pixie cut sported by the 1976 Olympic ice skating champion.
That fad was followed by the tousled mane made famous by Farrah Fawcett, star of TV's "Charlie's Angels."
"That's when women started wearing longer styles. When it was on the air, a lot of people wanted the look of specific characters on the 'Friends' cast. Now, they're into flat ironing the hair, especially the younger girls. And, everyone wants color -- two or three colors in their hair at the same time."
Coloring, or weaving, now is done using a new foiling technique as opposed to pulling strands of hair through holes in a skull cap.
"We can even do what's called 'Tortoise Shelling' where you put a different color on each foil of hair and can get different textures that way."
The price for one color is $77, for two colors is $95 and to have three colors applied is $110. For extremely long hair, foiling costs more. Because the coloring gives texture, fewer women have their hair permed. Even if they do, new formulas cut down on the odor.
Does Stusse color her hair? Yes -- but she uses the color with a bleach base.
"When I started to go gray and color my hair, it was before foiling," she noted. "I can't highlight my hair and my hair can't be foiled. I would have to grow it out completely, which would take at least a year. I don't want to do that."
Another change is the type of products used on hair.
"Now those products do a minimal amount of damage to the hair and you can be much more creative," she explained.
Belle Touche just switched to the Aveda product line that uses all-natural ingredients and is not tested on animals. Retailing has become a major part of the industry.
Stusse takes continuing education classes every year to stay current on the latest trends and products.
In the early years of her career she rarely cut and styled a man's hair. Now, men constitute at least 40 percent of the business.
"The majority of men want to get in and get out," she said. "Women, on the other hand, want to be pampered."
"When I began, this used to be an 8 to 5 job. About 11 years ago, when my son, Ryan, was 16, this business changed. It turned into a night and weekend business. If I want a future, I have to work those hours because that's when the customers are coming in."
She works three days a week, starting at 7:30 a.m. and working until 8 p.m. or later.
It would have been difficult to work nights and weekends while raising a family. She and her husband, Randy, have three adult sons who are married: Ryan and Sarah of Omaha, John and Peyton of Spring Valley, Ill., and Corey and Joanna of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Those 12-hour days have taken their toll on her feet. She wears a type of shoe that gives support, similar to what many nurses wear.
"Women can support themselves in this business now, it has changed that much," she stressed.
Stusse, 54, doesn't expect to retire any time soon.
"I love working with the young people in this industry. I enjoy the creative end of it. Each day is different."
Lynn Zerschling may be reached at (712) 293-4202 or lynnzerschling@siouxcityjournal.com
Stylists ratted women's hair to within an inch of it's natural life. Cans of hair spray gave their all to cement those bouffant styles in place. Not even a 25 mph wind gust could dislodge a curl.
"We did a lot of 'up-dos.' It was those old-time petal curls," stylist Sheryl Stusse of Sioux City recalled. "Some times we'd pin those curls in or just laid them on top of their heads. Many women wore those French twists. They only came in once a week and expected it to last all week long. Often they never combed their hair in between appointments."
In the 21st century, the natural look is in style. Products that are environmentally friendly are preferred. The styles and the way the business operates has changed dramatically since Stusse started her hairdressing career 37 years ago.
Yet, the one thing that has stayed the same is customer service.
"This is one of only a few professions where you touch a customer, in addition to health care," she said. "That touch is what establishes that trust."
Like the old-time barber, a bartender or a doctor, customers often tell their stylist their most intimate secrets -- from relationship problems to on-going job disputes.
"They spill their guts!" Stusse quipped, throwing back her head and giving her characteristic, infectious laugh.
She lends an ear, offers advice if asked and updates her customers on what hair styles and products are best for them as they sit in her chair at Belle Touche Salon & Day Spa, located in the Perry Creek Plaza.
Her interest in all things hair began at Heelan High School. Her friends asked her to give them a new look, using those old-time frosting kits. She isn't sure why they thought she could do a good job, but she found she had a knack for it.
After graduating from Heelan in 1970, she selected the one-year program at Stewart's School of Hairdressing.
"We had to take 2,100 hours of classes, which was required by state law. As I recall, it cost me $650. Now, it costs students from $12,000 to $16,000 a year. Unbelievable."
The Stewarts' students took classes in theory as well as practiced their techniques on customers.
"For color, it was all bleach back then. Only a very few people tinted their hair darker. The hardest thing to learn was to figure out what the customer wanted," Stusse recalled.
After graduation, she was assigned to work at Stewart's Salon in the Sunset Plaza, now home to the Marketplace Shopping Center.
During the 1970s, the "in" styles were those bouffant hair styles. Thirty-seven years later, Stusse said a few women still want that style that requires using hair rollers, hot dryers and all that back combing.
"The Dorothy Hamill look was huge," she said of the bobbed pixie cut sported by the 1976 Olympic ice skating champion.
That fad was followed by the tousled mane made famous by Farrah Fawcett, star of TV's "Charlie's Angels."
"That's when women started wearing longer styles. When it was on the air, a lot of people wanted the look of specific characters on the 'Friends' cast. Now, they're into flat ironing the hair, especially the younger girls. And, everyone wants color -- two or three colors in their hair at the same time."
Coloring, or weaving, now is done using a new foiling technique as opposed to pulling strands of hair through holes in a skull cap.
"We can even do what's called 'Tortoise Shelling' where you put a different color on each foil of hair and can get different textures that way."
The price for one color is $77, for two colors is $95 and to have three colors applied is $110. For extremely long hair, foiling costs more. Because the coloring gives texture, fewer women have their hair permed. Even if they do, new formulas cut down on the odor.
Does Stusse color her hair? Yes -- but she uses the color with a bleach base.
"When I started to go gray and color my hair, it was before foiling," she noted. "I can't highlight my hair and my hair can't be foiled. I would have to grow it out completely, which would take at least a year. I don't want to do that."
Another change is the type of products used on hair.
"Now those products do a minimal amount of damage to the hair and you can be much more creative," she explained.
Belle Touche just switched to the Aveda product line that uses all-natural ingredients and is not tested on animals. Retailing has become a major part of the industry.
Stusse takes continuing education classes every year to stay current on the latest trends and products.
In the early years of her career she rarely cut and styled a man's hair. Now, men constitute at least 40 percent of the business.
"The majority of men want to get in and get out," she said. "Women, on the other hand, want to be pampered."
"When I began, this used to be an 8 to 5 job. About 11 years ago, when my son, Ryan, was 16, this business changed. It turned into a night and weekend business. If I want a future, I have to work those hours because that's when the customers are coming in."
She works three days a week, starting at 7:30 a.m. and working until 8 p.m. or later.
It would have been difficult to work nights and weekends while raising a family. She and her husband, Randy, have three adult sons who are married: Ryan and Sarah of Omaha, John and Peyton of Spring Valley, Ill., and Corey and Joanna of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Those 12-hour days have taken their toll on her feet. She wears a type of shoe that gives support, similar to what many nurses wear.
"Women can support themselves in this business now, it has changed that much," she stressed.
Stusse, 54, doesn't expect to retire any time soon.
"I love working with the young people in this industry. I enjoy the creative end of it. Each day is different."
Lynn Zerschling may be reached at (712) 293-4202 or lynnzerschling@siouxcityjournal.com
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gerlach wrote on Jan 3, 2007 8:32 PM: