I have found that no matter what our age we really want to look our best. I think young people believe that old(er) people let themselves go but as I am now one of those old(er) people I can say that it is just the effects of being around a long time. We still want to look as good as we can. And hair is a big part of that, no matter what our age.
I see women of all ages and its just as important for each and every one of them. There may be different reasons but so what? I got a call from a woman that said that she heard of me through her hair stylist.
“My stylist says her client went to you and you changed her life!” , she told me.
“That’s always nice to hear,” I replied, assuming that it was in a good way.
“She also told me that it changed how she looked at wigs after styling hair for over ten years.” Well I guess it was a nice wig.
This woman went on to say that she wanted to get something for her mom for her 70th birthday and would I be able to see them. That’s easy. But I am glad that I will be helping two very sweet women out later on this week.
Sometimes I have to deal with hair loss pain in a father to father way. Its especially poignant with dads and daughters. Earlier this week I had a 12 year old girl come in with trichotillomania. Okay, she was 13, but I called her 12 so she would still qualify for our Wigs For Kids Program. She had gotten a free postiche over a year ago and was due for the next one, especially since she was going into junior high. It was lucky that I had something here in the salon. Vassela cut it in and she was ready for September.
Her father took me aside and said how grateful he was. He also told me that years ago his daughter had cut her long hair and donated it to the program. His voice cracked when he said this. I know how he felt. I was glad to help a fellow father take care of his little girl.
I got a call from my pal Jie down the street. Jie works with a very, very exclusive clientele. He is a bit (a bit) eccentric but then genius often is. He had a client that had to see me and wanted to set it up so that I took good care of her, so he called me personally. She came to see me with one of Jie’s assistants. You could tell from 20 feet away that she was used to getting exactly what she wants. Which I like. Its easy when a client knows what she wants. Its when she does not know that can be the root of all problems.
Jie’s assistant, a stunningly tall and gorgeous blonde, walked past me like I was something unmentionable in her circle. And I guess I am. But the client was even more skeptical. She was going through a tough time with her hair loss due to some medications and she had a busy summer schedule coming up. She asked me to look at wigs. I studied her hair. “Why not look at a partial?” I suggested.
I brought out a postiche that I had as a sample. The colour was off but she and Jie’s assistant looked at it and their attitude immediately changed when I put it on her.
“It weighs NOTHING!”
“Jie could easily tone the colour for you.”
The conversation then turned to the technical. Photos were sent to Jie and a frantic text exchange between him and his assistant. It was like when I have lunch with my bond trader friends.
“Jie says this will be perfect.” she pronounces. She actually smiled!
So this lady will have her new hair ready for the weekend. When she was leaving she pulled me aside.
“Where have you been?”
“We’ve been here for 50 years. We’re not hiding.” I say.
“I was told,” she said, “to go to New York.”
“Oh, to see _____?”
“Yes. I was having a piece made for $3500.” (Gosh, I have GOT to raise my prices) “and it is NOTHING like this. It’s heavy and wiggy and I am going to call and see if I can cancel. I flew to New York just to do that, but this is what I want. In a month I’ll be back and you can make me one up custom. I am going to need two”
“I can do that.” I said.
From my email in-box. June 14, 2013.
Dear Michael,
You don’t know me and I’ve never visited your shop on Avenue Road. But on March 12, 2012 my younger sister and I visited your shop at the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook in search of finding a wig that would allow her some comfort as she continued her journey through her chemotherapy treatments.
My sister had been diagnosed with cancer at the age of 38 the previous December. Our visit to your shop at Sunnybrook was the first time that she and I had been together in almost 20 years. I think its fair to say that we were both quite nervous about the appointment itself; would the staff be friendly and helpful, would we find something “good”, could we afford whatever was offered, and of course……….how would spending time together in this atmosphere, under very stressful circumstances unfold?
Our visit that day ended up being about so much more than just buying a wig. It allowed us a bit of time together that was pleasant and almost fun, in a situation that was anything but. The real reason I write to you about this over a year later, is because the member of your staff that assisted us that day, (a woman who shared with us that she herself was a cancer survivor) is someone that will remain in my memory forever. She treated my sister and I with such care and concern and friendliness, that I think both of us were able to forget for a moment (however brief) of why we were really there! I don’t recall the stylist’s name but she was so lovely and I thanked her with a card shortly thereafter to let her know how much I appreciated her fantastic customer service..
More important was the fact that my sister loved that wig. Her face lit up the moment it was placed upon her, and I know that she never went anywhere in all the days after that. Sadly, my sister survived only five more months after that day, but the happiness and smiles brought about by the visit to your shop that day, bring with it memories that will last a lifetime for me.
As the 1 year anniversary of her passing approaches, I am reminded of that special stylist, of my sister’s smile when she turned to look at me with her new “do”, and of the shop at Sunnybrookwhich for me will always be about so much more that just a place of hair.
With thanks for everything that you do…….
LMN
Dear Michael & Staff,
Thank you for all you have done for me. You not only encouraged and welcomed me to a positive and friendly environment, but gave me the confidence to feel beautiful in a wig. I guess you see it every day, but it is truly amazing when someone who has alopecia gets to walk out of the room with a fullhead of beautiful hair. I like always believe that its what’s inside that counts, and that beauty is skin deep, but it gives me such a wonderful feeling to look in the mirror and see myself with a full head of hair. I’m not going to lie, it seems like having alopecia gets harder and harder to handle by the day. I’m 13 now, and even if I don’t think hair is really a big deal for teenage girls, society does. I didn’t realize how much hair I had last year until I actually accepted the fact that I am losing a lot of hair. I’ve always found it so unfair to have alopecia, but over the past few months I realized why I never really thought about it. Its because I never saw my own hair coming out in extremely unnatural amounts, every time I look down. Here I am, trying to stay positive and telling myself my hair will grow back, but its all just so disappointing and discouraging. It’s heartbreaking for someone like me who tries to be positive about everything. Anyways, the point of this letter was not to complain about having alopecia, but to let you know how truly appreciated your wig is.
My Mom said it, my Dad would say it, and I will say it. We are always ready to give anything for my hair to grow back, and we have tried a lot. I appreciate that the wig is a lot less painful than acupuncture that doesn’t even work! ): but the fact that the wig is for free, and I think that I speak for many children when I say this, is so heart warming and amazing. We are all so grateful for such a wonderful program and such wonderful people who are willing to do something like it.
Thank you, to everyone. For creating a welcoming environment, for encouraging me and for working your magic. The wig looks so natural and I still do a double-take when I see it on my head, for two reasons. One: That it looks so natural and beautiful, but two,: That I was fortunate enough to have this wig. You’ve all also given me a new kind of confidence. I’ve only worn the wig about 4 or 5 times, but I do plan on wearing it even more. I was recently confirmed, and I proudly wore my wig. I thought of all of you as I knew you were all there supporting me! Thank you again, and I really hope you realize how happy you have made me.
P.S. please share this letter with the rest of your staff at Continental so they also know how much of a difference they have made in my life.
Sincerely,
H.L.
Her Mother wrote me a card that came with the letter:
Dear Friends at Continental,
Thank you so very much for the kindness and compassion and generosity you have shown towards my daughter. As she has expressed so eloquently in her letter to you, she struggles daily coping with her alopecia areata. (Pretty tough for a 13 year old).
Your warmth and understanding has helped us both to deal with our feelings. We really appreciate all that you have done for us and would like to express our deepest gratitude.
Sincerely, C.L.
Both men and women go out on special occasions. Both men and women take time and effort to get ready for these occasions. Both enjoy doing that. But there is a difference. With men the getting ready and the occasion are two separate events. For women they are all part of the evening. And for a woman, getting her hair done is definitely part of the event. I think it can be seen as the introduction, or the preface, to the occasion.
This is easy to understand, even for men. But what if a woman is suffering from hair loss? It does not matter what kind, alopecia areata, female pattern thinning, chemotherapy induced, it comes down to how is a woman going to get ready to go out for something special.
I bring this up because last Saturday we had two women here with different events to go to in the evening. They have androgenetic alopecia. This followed a young cancer patient on the Friday that was getting ready for her prom. It was great to see these women have their hair done. The brunette was in her late forties and was having a French roll up-do. The blonde client, in her early fifties, was having her postiche have her hair cascade up like a fountain with all kinds of sparkly stuff attached to it. You could see that both of them were starting to feel very good about the way they were going to look that evening. This whole process for any woman can set the tone and the mood for the rest of the event. And they were on their way.
I asked my client getting the French roll what her dress was going to look like.
“Its a black strapless.” she said.
“I think you are going to have fun tonight.” I replied.
“Oh I am going to have a great time.” She smiled.
