Sorry to say that Hazel didn't make it into this photo--she's just out of frame to the upper right. To see her, you'll have to visit in person.
Hazel is a pastel drawing of a blonde in a simple country dress and she watches from the wall with a stern look. Leslie found her in the trash some time ago, put on a nice frame and hung on the wall of her new shop. Leslie’s son is also represented, in a small photo in the corner of the mirror. You’re likely to hear about him when you visit.
The premises itself is as modest as Hazel’s attire. It’s a small brick-and-cinderblock building that she shares with a vintage shop, next door to Spudnuts—a constant temptation to proprietor and customer alike. It has everything needed for a great haircut: chair, mirror, scissors, product, washing sink, and ace stylist.
It’s not fancy but it is very classy in its understatedness and that is very much a reflection of Leslie’s personality. Some people try to buy beauty or add frills but her approach is subtractive. A few smart decisions carry the day, which is exactly the right sensibility for someone cutting hair. In this world, there’s no going back: only growing back.
Leslie opened her beauty bar this past spring without a banner or marketing campaign—just a small, spontaneous party for friends, of which she has many. I was her client at her previous location and extremely happy to learn that she had moved into the neighborhood. It’s a friendly spot—social as such establishments tend to be, but never overwhelming.
It’s calm and relaxing like a massage. I find myself looking forward to my next haircut.
The People of Monticello Road is a weekly series of profiles that will run through the summer. Monticello Road is a photography and story-telling project about the people and places along a mile-long byway that is simultaneously humble and historic, home to many and a reflection of us all. There will be an exhibition and much more in the Spring of 2012.
Project Description | More Photos: Places | People
Hazel Beauty Bar
No comments:
Post a Comment