Done by Dēroc

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Sad Hair

I checked my calendar to see how my morning would begin. Men’s haircut with a customer note. The note said: This is my husband and you know me, he has stage four cancer. Man that’s a heavy way to start a day. I recognized the last name and began to prepare myself for a sad haircut.

I visualized all the things I’ve seen or imagined over 25 years of doing terminally ill hair. Lots of hair loss during the service. The smells that come with weakness and medications. The empathy for their pain and future loss. I was not prepared for what I actually had to deal with.

His wife arrived about ten minutes early telling me that he wants to wait until 9:00 because that’s when his appointment is scheduled for. She complained that she told him it was okay to come in and he didn’t want to, so can I just trim up her hairline because its always so nice when I fix it. As I am cleaning up the hairline of the graduated bob she is growing out, in walks a very large man with a large presence.

I seat him and he shows me a shaved bit of his head behind his ear where a tumor had been removed from his brain. The rest of his hair is long and really overgrown. He wants me to not cut it much shorter because he wants a ponytail. He has been riding Harleys all his life and has never had a pony tail. “I want a pony tail before I die,” he tells me.

From that moment on the jokes and banter would be non-stop. Him and his wife would argue with that kind of loving arguing, “he’s a pain in my ass,” “she’s too expensive to get rid of now.” I told him a lot of Harley riders are bald too and he didn’t need to be a stereotype. I also let him know they make clip in pony tails. He promptly told me to get the hell outta here with that.

I cut, trimmed, blended, and hid everything the way he wanted it. Cut some of the length a bit shorter the way she wanted it. We all laughed and joked at each others expense and everything was about as normal as any appointment you would have with any familiar clientele. Then he says, “This looks good. In about six months I should have a pony tail.”

He got up and told us he had had enough of the two of us and walked out. His wife was grabbing some cash and I looked at her and saw the tears in her eyes. Not spilling, just hovering around the edges of her now tired looking eyes. So tired.

“I told him he would like you,” she says with a quiver and strain in her voice as she hands me a hundred dollars more than the cost of his haircut.

I ask her if he has enough time left to get that ponytail he wants. She assures me that it is very unlikely. So I tell her that she better go buy that clip in ponytail then!

The abrupt laughter and wide smiles we both had finally made her tears overflow onto her cheeks. She hugged me and we offered warm goodbyes while laughing all the way out the door. I began my sanitation and was sweeping the floor when surprisingly, my tears spilled.

As looked at his hair on the ground, I saw sadness in the soft curls and short clippings. I saw frowning faces, misery, and pain in the abstract fibers on the floor. I wept as I swept and had a realization.

Death comes for us all. One way or another. Obviously. But, it seems to come harder for the ones we love. It seems more personal. So you fight it and get battered yourself along the way. I wonder how it feels for the dying if it is already so difficult for the one losing someone. And yet, we had a good time. We chose to enjoy this moment. This is the first time I’ve met this man. It may likely be the last. I felt as if, for a moment anyway, I fought death with him and his wife. Refusing to let it ruin our fun. Now, privately and quietly I grieve a man I did not know.

F*ck Cancer

This is exactly we all need on Monday mornings. We hope you all have a great week!

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We are currently looking for a hair stylist to join our team.

✂ This is a full time position, but will consider part time for the right candidate.
✂ Starting pay is 45-50% commission with room to grow. We are passionate about creating not just jobs, but careers in this amazing industry.
✂ Looking for at least 2 years of local experience.
✂ Every job wants someone who "is passionate and hard working" and while those qualities are great, we want someone who is serious about taking their career to the next level, and always looking to be challenged to grow.
✂ We are unconventional in many ways. So, if you're looking to shake things up, then this is the place for you.
✂ You will receive on-going education from owner/stylist, Derrick, who has traveled nationally educating professionals, and working as a platform artist for brands such as Tigi, FHI heat, All Nutrient, and more. You will have access to his expansive knowledge base from over 20 years in the industry.

done by Deroc is a truly unique salon for both staff and guests. Our team is our family, and we put a lot of value on continuing education. Whether you've been in the industry for 10 years or only 1, there is always something to learn.

Please send us your resume, and we will reach out to schedule an interview. Due to COVID-19 we are willing to conduct first interviews over the phone, or via FaceTime.

We stand by the products we use because they stand by what’s right.

We are with you. We stand beside you in this fight.

We here at Healium Hair believe that everyone is deserving of love and basic human rights. No matter their skin color. The senseless killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and too many others show that as a society we have to do better & not turn a blind eye. Please join us in texting “FLOYD” to 55156 to demand justice or visit justiceforbigfloyd.com to sign the petition 💙