Her hands twisted in her lap as she stared at the short curls that frizzed around her wide eyes. Uncertainty was evident.
An 11th grade girl was seated in the salon's beauty seat, a place where she clearly felt out of place.
I'd place her mid-twenties, the second figure in the mirror.
Gorgeous black curls swept up in a stylish mohawk ensured my onlooking eyes; this hairstylist knew exactly what to do. She was a goddess - reigning secure in her ability to transform the wary figure before her.
She wasn't working magic; merely uncovering the beauty that lay beneath the build-up.
Skilled hands gently combed through the short tangles. A soft voice asked questions and received answers that probably made her insides curl tighter than the hair in her hands. Curls were her specialty, this was obvious. Not only did she know how to trim, wash and style them in the salon, but she knew just how they should be cared for on a regular basis. Little by little she gave tips and insight. The girl in the chair listened well. Daily changes would need to take place, new habits formed, and although the appointment wasn't finished yet, she was soaking in every word.
Uneasiness washed away faster than the chemicals that coated each dark strand. Fear was replaced with confidence. Her curls needn't be a source of out-of-control confusion, but an expression of individuality.
I sat in the chair next to hers. My own curls, though very different, had also gone through a transformation in this salon. My own hair habits had needed change and skilled hands and a kind voice instructed me, only two short years before.
But as I sat, waiting for the red color to seep into my hair I couldn't help but think.
How often is beauty waiting just beneath the surface of a tangled life and poor choices?
Every life is beautiful, every soul in need of love - and a little kindness and patience.
