GROUND ZERO...What's in a name?

Ground Zero def.- The hottest spot of a nuclear explosion and/or the focal point of an event or movement.
    
The first time the name "Ground Zero" was used in print was 1946 in the New York Times describing the bombs dropping on Japan. 

There are thousands of businesses in the US with the words "Ground Zero" in the name...
-Ground Zero Auto Body
-Ground Zero Audio
-Ground Zero Medical Billing
-Ground Zero Games
-Ground Zero Surfboards

I wonder if these 5 companies, out of thousands of others, have ever gotten the flack I have gotten over the prefix Ground Zero being in their name.  Which leads me to this question... What's in a name?  And what do you do when the name of your business that you have had for 14 years is cool on one day and the next becomes a moniker for the worst tragic event in US history?

On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked our country.  I remember that day as if it were yesterday.  Waking up to Howard Stern telling me the first tower went down - and then the second.  I put on the news and there was the big headline - "Tragedy Strikes Ground Zero".  I got dressed and went to work.  Everyone had that zombie look of disbelief, horror and fear.

On September 11, 2001, I had already owned my hair salon Ground Zero for 14 years.  I didn't even understand the rammifications of having a business called Ground Zero until my dad (who was my receptionist at Ground Zero Main Street) called a client to confirm their appointment...He proceeded to say "Hello, this is Sonny from Ground Zero, I am calling to confirm your appointment for..." and before he could get another word out of his mouth she said, "what kind of sick joke are you playing!" and hung up on him.  Really?

Over the past 10 years since 9/11, I have had to defend my name to many different people including my staff at times.  Defend seems rather extreme, but I have had to on several occasions -   when right after Keith Conroy bought his business Ground Zero Main Street, a little picture of it appeared in a newsletter by Glen Beck (readership was probably only 100 at that time thankfully) asking "Why would you keep a name like this after 9/11?"  Or when Robin who owned Ground Zero Chestnut Hill was confronted by a women who came into the salon to yell at her about the name.  Really?

Just recently, I have had the pleasure (not really) to find out that my new salon, which should have opened back in February, is being held up due to so-called "permit issues".  However, rumor has it that the inspector has been giving me a hard time because they feel that the name "Ground Zero" is too disrespectful.  Really?

So here's the deal... I bought Powelton Hair Studio in 1987 and I had to keep the name until I received my salon license.  For the next 2 months, I answered the phone "Hello, Powelton Hair Studio" and hated it - it just wasn't me.   The salon was on Drexel University's campus in Powelton Village, but it was in the basement of an apartment building.  I had thought of naming it "The Underground" and then it all came together... One day while I was walking to the dentist at Presby Hospital and listening to the radio on my walkman  David Bowie's song Space Oddity came on.  I really liked the name "Ground Control" at first, and then a DJ came on and said something like "Here we are, starting back at GROUND ZERO"... At that moment, a light bulb went off in my head and my salon name was born.  To me, the name meant starting over, which I was.  And my salon was in the basement level of an apartment building so the name was perfect!  I never in my wildest dreams imagined that 25 years later I would be accused of disrespecting my country.

So this is for everyone who has issues with the name.  Just know this...Ground Zero Salons have produced some of the finest talent in the Philadelphia area.  We have trained and mentored many people who needed a path.  They chose Ground Zero because of our commitment to our clients, commitment to education, and commitment to our community.  We have been responsible for raising money for local charities such as City of Hope, Ronald Mcdonald Camp, Jefferson Breast Cancer Center (The Black and White Ball) and Dancing Classrooms.  We are also currently in the process of getting sponsors for our next Black and White Ball to benefit U of P Veterinary School next year.  We rise to any occasion when we are asked to support local endeavors and our clients experience a warm and friendly atmosphere when they walk through our doors.

We consider ourselves family and our clients agree.  The dedicated staff exemplifies the quality you recieve at our salons.  So stop in to one of our salons before you go dissin' our name.  Sure, Its the same name the media gave the 9/11 attacks - but we had it first!
W

Continuing Education

I think it is ironic that I still love teaching so much even though I definitely had difficulties with learning when I went to school.  For the past 30 years, I have had the opportunity to work for and educate some of the best and brightest talent in the industry.  Which brings me to this question...Why isn't continuing education required in every state of the USA?  It seems to me that it would be a no-brainer to keep ourselves up to date on the current styles and trends in a business that is forever changing.      I remember one time when I was working a hair show in Ohio, when I was approached by a hairdresser attending the show.  She asked me if I would be so kind as to sign a form verifying that I was actually there.  I looked at her and asked what it was for and she proceeded to tell me that the state of Ohio requires ALL licensed stylists to do a certain amount of hours in continuing education per year.  Although I completely agree with that statement, it sparked this question...Why is it not a universal rule of thumb in the hair industry?
    
After I returned home, I found out that my own state of PA was one of the states that does not require continuing education for the cosmetology field.  It's not many hours per year...it's just enough to keep you informed and up-to-date on what is going on in the beauty biz.  I decided to make an oath to myself and my employees when I started in this business and it's still my #1 priority...next to my clients well-being and happiness.  Dedication to education is my motto.
    
In my opinion, what makes a great hairdresser is one who is constantly striving to better themselves as a professional and one that is willing to share their information and expertise with anyone willing to listen and learn.  I have always surrounded myself with professionals with a heart.  Where ego and attitude are far from the surface.  Where I am able to get a bird's-eye-view on what it means to be a true professional.  Where I can learn to give back all that I could to a profession that has given me so much.
    
For the past 7 years I've had the honor to work for Luis Alvarez with Aquage.  His desire for education reinforced my beliefs to teach and be taught constantly and I have dedicated my professional and non-professional life to continuing to inspire and educate my staff at Ground Zero.  I am better at what I do because of the people I have taught and the teachers who have inspired me.
    
 This past Wed. morning, my Ground Zero Center City salon held a highlighting class.  It was a wonderful jam session/learning platform for the junior stylists, as well as the master stylists helping guide the juniors along.  I am a firm believer of not wasting time in the salon, and every minute of down-time can be used to learn and inspire, teach, create, and hone one's skills to their fullest potential.  Everyday at Ground Zero is continuing education because there is no growth without it.  Here are some pictures of our morning

Enjoy!
W

  

Red Sage

I remember the first person I talked to in hair school...Maria.  To me, she seemed rather shy until I got to know her.  We were in the same class - Wilfred Academy, September of 1980.  That was the first school I went to that I actually enjoyed.  I remember sitting in a classroom, looking around a class full of kids with really bad hair, not to mention the worst hair of all was the director standing in the front of the room.  Why I  let him cut my hair, I will never know since I think my haircut was similar to his.  It was kind of like James Brown's hair back in the day.  In fact, every time my one friend walked  past me she would yell "ow, get on the good foot!"  (Those of you born after 1980 will not get this reference)  OK, now I'm off track...A.D.D?  Back to my friend Maria.
    
We became fast friends and we went through so much together.  Since then, she has been developing her hair salon business while I have been developing mine.  We have shared business strategies through the years and compared notes along the way.  It has been years since I had seen her as commitments and time have put distance between us.  I read a while ago that Maria's salon had a billboard on I-95.  I hadn't realized that she even moved her salon and opened up Red Sage - a day spa in the Northeast.
   
I had been thinking of her lately and the first time I went on I-95 and saw her "larger than life" salon, I felt really proud of her.  We shared many dreams and goals when we were kids and to see it recognized was pretty cool.
    
Last night, I went up to the Tiffany Diner to meet my parents who just flew in for my nephew's graduation.  As I was racing up I-95, I saw the billboard again and it reminded me to get in touch with my old friend.  I am always up for suggestions, and it seemed like she was doing something right.  Maybe she could give me some pointers.  I told myself I would get in touch with her on Facebook next week and see how she was.
    
I went to my nephew Harris's graduation and we were all so proud when he won The Founder's Award.  I sat in the audience and listened to the speakers giving advice to the class of 2011.  "Follow your dreams and go as far as you can imagine".  I thought of myself back in school and remembered the look I had in my eye when my director said the same thing.  After the ceremony, we went to a restaurant near the school to celebrate Harris's graduation and 18th birthday.  I haven't taken off work on a Friday in a while and when I do, I am usually thinking about what's going on in the salon when I'm not there.  I didn't have that feeling today.  I felt lucky to have a special occasion that brought my family together.
    
As we turned the corner to the restaurant, I noticed that next door to it was a salon.  Of course it was Red Sage!  I walked over and opened up the the door to a beautiful, high-energy, very busy salon.  I saw Jackie first, and next to her was Maria and then Loretta all working on clients.  Maria thought I was a customer at first, I guess not recognizing my newly brown hair.  A second later when she knew it was me, she said "Oh my god Wendy, come over here and give me a hug!" She showed me her spa and we talked for a few minutes.  I went back to the restaurant assuring her we would see each other soon.
    
I just read this to my niece, who is way smarter than me.  I like to get her opinion when I write because she sees a clear picture of things and is truthful, so criticism is taken only as constructive.  Well, she told me that I didn't have an ending - something to pull the story together.  She asked why I wanted to write about this particular story today and thought it could possibly be the correlation between Harris starting the next chapter of his life and when I first started mine.  "Yes", I said, "you are probably right".  I just wanted to write about seeing my old friend and congratulate her success.  There are no coincidences...the story will continue.
W

    .

follow your bliss

     The other day I was cutting my first client's hair, lets call him Jimmy, because that is his real name.  (Sorry Jim for exposing you in my blog, but it had to be done).  Jimmy has been coming to me for more than 25 years to get his hair cut.  We are friends and I know his wife and kids.  The first thing he tells me is that his daughter told him she wants to go to cosmetology school.  First he said it wrong (on purpose it seemed) which annoyed me just a little.  Knowing his daughter was interested in my profession got me excited.  The last time he came into the salon he showed me pictures of her and I couldn't believe how grown up she looked and how beautiful she is.  It's crazy how time moves us along and my clients kids are now grown up.  Nevertheless, Jim told me he flat out said NO.  I'm not sure if it was because I hadn't had my first cup of coffee or I actually couldn't believe he was so adamant about her not becoming a hairdresser that I got defensive enough to rant for the next ten minutes.  I always thought that when I wanted to go to hair school and my mom said "NO, go to college!" it was because nice, Jewish girls either became laywers or married them.  I guess fathers of nice, Italian girls feel the same way.  He really didn't have an answer when I asked him why he didn't want her to be a hairdresser.  Is it not a respectable enough occupation?  No, I'm not saying that, he said.  I asked "does she enjoy being creative and being around hair and makeup?"  "Yes she does", he replied.  I asked "do you think she's not going to make enough money?"   I was just so baffled by his decision for his daughter because as a long hair 50+ year old bass player who just joined a band that HE wouldn't want his daughter to follow HER bliss.  I asked him what if he was asked to play with the Rolling Stones when he was a kid, and his father said "no they - wont be anything".
     I went to college for a year, wasted my parents money, and then went to hair school.   I hated high school and only found a need for education when it was something I wanted to learn.  Thankfully, my mom and dad reconsidered and allowed me to go to school for what I wanted.
     It's a shame that so many important descisions are made for us by other people.  I'm glad that I was able to be in this occupation because after 30 years I still have a passion for it.
     The same night I went to a retirement party for one of my clients that I've been doing for around 27 years. She is from Powelton Village and I've known her since I opened my first salon.  (Which is where i met Jimmy also).  As I sat there and looked around the room, I saw so many people that have walked thru the doors of my salons for the last 30 years.  I smiled when I thought of Jimmy not wanting his kid to be a hairdresser.   Because of what I do, I was there celebrating with my clients who turned into my friends.  I have had the opportunity to be part of people's lives that I probably wouldn't have been part of had I not been a hairdresser.

        Right before Jimmy left and had given him at least a hundred reasons why it is a good thing to let her do what will make her happy, (I can be very persuasive) he gave me a hug and said he would reconcider.
W

The modern prom (curl) girl

 Ahh the dreaded prom....and what to do to make our prom girls turn into little models and make them have the envy of all the other girls at the prom?  Well this is my girl Caitlyn.  I have known her since before she was born, having done her mom's hair for the last 25 years.  Caty called me a couple of months ago and told me that she wanted me to do her hair for the prom since her favorite hairdresser Kev doesn't like doing updos.  I told her I'd love to and after doing some cool stuff for the Moore Fashion Show we just did, I had some thing in mind.  I told her to just trust me and come in no need for a practice (Although I highly reccommend practice trials when doing a bride)

I gave Caty pre-updo instructions to not wash her hair that day; which makes it easier to hold the style and started off in the back (which makes it easier by not having to move already curled hair).  I wrapped each half inch sections on the outside of the iron as not to give her that boofy old-school prom curl look.  I used Aquage's Working Spray which I think is the best for building up strength in the hair.  After the head was completly curled, I pulled down the curl by using Aquage's Detailing Creme and a little Transforming Paste giving the curl a looser look.

Before the styling part, I took Caty over to do her makeup.  I like putting the makeup on before the finished look is completed because I tend to put my hand on the head and mess up the hair.  I also like when the makeup is on while I am finishing the hair because they can settle in with the look of the makeup - and it makes them less nervous for the finished product.

Caty's makeup was more then she usually wears because it needed to stay on until the after-prom - which is always better then the actual prom so its even more important to look good at  3am.  Her dress was purple and she loves pink so I did her eyes in those colors.  It was fun to do her make up.  Young skin is always such a good canvas to work on.

I left her hair down for a bit so she could see a couple of styles.   Although, because of the weather, I pulled it up which was my original intention.  I placed her hair in a loose side pony and left some hair out for softness. She loved it and so did i - which is a good thing since I tend to be a little (ha ha) critical of my own work. I am still waiting for pics when she was in her dress .. Til next time...Bye...W

(Photos courtesy of Kevin Von Holtermann)



Too Much Time on your hands

What do you do when you're not busy in the salon? Thankfully this doesn't happen too often to me because I've been doing hair in Philadelphia for most of my thirty years in this business .On the days that I have a couple of free minutes I love to play hairdresser. This is when I experiment and have fun playing around. I am lucky enough to have great models in my circle, so I am always working on beautiful women to make my creations look even better. I love trying out new looks on models who allow me to do my own thing. i have a collection of photos that I am going to share with you and give some insight as to how I go about getting these final looks. I feel as though if you have a free moment and you don't put that time to good use its just a waste of time. Never feel as though you're good enough... practice makes whatever you want it to make. Skill ,speed and technical quality only comes from practicing your craft. Pull out your irons ,pull out your favorite working spray and lets get rockin.
W

practicing