I’ll be honest; loyalty is a big thing with
me. It probably stems from the sorority
days, but there are just some things I won’t turn my back on. I honest-to-God believe there are two people
a woman should never cut the apron strings with: her OB/GYN and her hairdresser. Talk about the people who know you best! My hairdresser is in Arkansas, my doctor is
in Missouri and no matter what state I’ve lived in, I’ve never missed an
appointment with either woman.
For those of you who are not chemically
enhanced, bless your hearts! I was born
a blonde and just have “stayed that way” by magic! (Oh, alright…magic in a mixing bowl) I did have a particular nasty episode in
college where I thought it might be fun to be a brunette for about three
months. It wasn’t.
When I found myself days away from a job interview and looking like the shame-spiral version of Brittany Spears, I knew getting home for a touchup wasn’t going to happen this time. (I’d flown home in June and made the rounds
then) I called my hairdresser in
Arkansas and asked what to do. Knowing that it was too late to get into a salon and having no idea where to go…she advised checking into the local beauty schools in the area.
Some online research led me to the Orlo
School of Hair Design and Cosmetology where they happily booked me for an
immediate appointment. I think I had my
first full blown NY panic attack just about then…all I could think of was the
lyrics to “Beauty School Drop-Out” from Grease. What was I about to do??
I was so stressed about having someone else touch my mop of hair that I seriously had to have an Ativan just to get through it. First of all, even with my hairdresser’s blessing, I felt like I was cheating. 
Second, my Piggott, Arkansas hairdresser, Suzy Johnson (photo on left) is like another mother…she would fix me up on Sundays after church, she would let us use her other beauty shop chair as an editing station so I could work on my news stories while I was getting ‘beautified’ and she
even once gave me an emergency haircut between newscasts when I burnt off a
chunk of hair with a demon possessed curling iron. Sometimes you just have history with someone!
History was about to be made though when I
showed up at the Orlo School.
Administrators put me with senior student Lana Cole: adorably cute, blonde and just weeks from
graduating. I’m not sure I could have
been in better hands! Lana was bubbly
and chatty and it was so nice to actually have a conversation with a New Yorker
in my age bracket. From Cobleskill, Lana
drives into Albany every day to attend beauty school. As a graduate of the City University of New
York, she defiantly has the brains to back up her next business step. This girl was one sharp cookie! She gave me a take on the Albany community
and some great Northern advice. She also could have been a Southerner any day…that girl could tease hair like a pro! But most
importantly, she was great at what she did! I was so pleased with the outcome I just wanted
to cry tears of joy!
After my initial visit to the Orlo School, I
came across a news article in the Albany Times
Union about a Orlo alumni. Graduate Gina Bonacquisti had just been nominated for two Emmy’s for
her hairstyling on Glee. Well, I decided if an Orlo graduate could
work on those kid’s hair then I was
probably in good hands!
I was able to get into have Lana do my hair
one more time (and it looks fabulous!) before she graduates this Wednesday. I wish her nothing but the best of luck and
hope our paths might cross again someday…y’all know my roots will need it!
Blondes really do have more fun! Me & Lana Cole at the Orlo School of Hair Design and Cosmetology