About judydeluca

Author of the enovel, Towel Dry and a Good Cry Board Certified Haircolorist

Legend of the Lenten Pretzel

Posted on March 26, 2013 by judydeluca

The pretzel, being symbolic of prayer and penance during Lent, is a small but powerful instrument in bring families to God.

Lent is a period of fasting and self-denial. Praying, fasting and penance, at this time, is an imitation of our Lord’s fasting for forty days and forty nights in preparation for Easter.

In the Roman Empire the faithful kept a strict fast. No milk, butter, cheese eggs, cream or meat were eaten during Lent. They made small breads of water, flour and salt to remind them that Lent was a time for pray and penance. They shaped these breads in the form of crossed arms for in those days they crossed their arms over the breast while praying. They called the breads “little arms” (bracellae). From this Latin word Germanic people named them pretzels.

Many Christians follow this tradition with their children and I’ve included a little story of how Josie and her family celebrate this tradition in my sequel to Towel Dry and a Good Cry , Towel Dry and an Alibi, that I’m currently working on.

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Towel Dry and a Good Cry is about a young girl, new to the hairdressing business, that learns all too quick that there is more to standing behind the chair than just cutting hair. A story full of laughs and tears lies and fears with characters you’ll love, hate or will leave your jaw hanging open!

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

Happy St. Josephs Day

Posted on March 18, 2013 by judydeluca

I’m currently writing the sequel to my first novel Towel Dry and a Good Cry, entitled Towel Dry and an Alibi. In the story, Josie and her family are celebrating St. Josephs Day, a Christian holiday. Here is a direct quote from the sequel, (still untitled!).

There is a Catholic tradition my mother makes a big deal out of every year on March 19, St. Josephs Day. The focus of this holiday is on “St. Josephs Table,” a feast that includes breads, vegetables, egg dishes, pasta and desserts. It’s like a Catholic Thanksgiving, to me. Legend has it, during the medieval drought and famine, Sicilians prayed to St. Joseph, the patron of workers and the guardian of family. When the famine subsided, they attributed it to the saint and promised to honor him each year with a feast. The main pasta dish my mother always prepared was a meatless red sauce, (it’s Lent) with anchovies and topped with bread crumbs to represent the sawdust, a nod to the saint’s connection with the working man.

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

The Decollete’

Posted on March 12, 2013 by judydeluca

One of my favorite beauty tips.

The decollete’ is the skin on the neck and chest area.

This area is very delicate, has no fat, and shows all the telltale signs of aging such as dryness, wrinkles and sunspots. Hydrating day and night in this area is very important in keeping the skin looking younger. Use a cream facial wash instead of using soap or body washes. Creams that are developed for your face will hydrate while cleansing. Follow up with your facial moisture cream with sunscreen by day and night cream before bed.. Slather the moisturizer down the neck and across the decollete’ for maximum hydration.

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Hair Dressed In A Pompadour

Posted on March 5, 2013 by judydeluca

The pompadour is a man or woman’s style of hairdressing. The idea is to create a mound in front of the hair.

The pompadour hairstyle dates back to the 1700’s and the evolution of it has lasted through to today’s hair fashion .

Women wore the pompadour in the 1700’s and Marie Antoinette was a good example of how it was worn then.

The Guilded Age, 1877 to 1889, brought back the pompadour for women in the style of the Gibson Girl.

In the 1930’s and 40’s it re-emerged into the next phase of the pompadour and hollywood played a big role in that come-back.

Again, in the 50’s and 60’s.

The Grunge Era in the 80’s.

And the pompadour is back in full-swing today! Here are some of my favorite modern day pompadours.

And the best of all….

As a hairdresser of thirty some odd years, I used to cut hair into the pompadour when it was in style in the 80’s and I’m doing it all over again today.

In the novel I’ve written, Towel Dry and a Good Cry, the main character, Josie Capelli, a new to the business hairdresser in the early 80’s was doing the pompadour on her male clients. My story walks you through what it’s really like to stand behind the chair of a hairdresser through Josie’s eyes and what it was like for her back then to do hair and deal with deep-rooted attachments to her clients, along with her crazy hairdresser best friend and her drama-filled, overbearing, overprotective, Catholic, Italian family.

Towel Dry and a Good Cry is a heartfelt story of truth, trust and love surrounded by a web of characters, some you’ll love, some you’ll hate and some will leave your jaw hanging open!

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

http://www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips

A Photo For My Museum of Hair History

Posted on February 26, 2013 by judydeluca

This 1930’s hairdryer is my latest flea market find and is now displayed in my photo museum of hair history on my website.

Helene Curtis has been around since 1927.

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

The Next Big Thing! (An Authors Blog Hop)

Posted on February 21, 2013 by judydeluca

I was tagged by a writer friend and Nashville blogger to participate in an authors “blog hop” about my next book. At the end of this post I will be tagging another author who will share her next big project and I invite you to visit her blog and she will continue the blog hop by tagging the next author and so on.

My second book is a continuation of my first novel, Towel Dry and a Good Cry.

1. What is the working title of your book?

That’s a good question. Before answering I need to give a little back story. Early on in writing my first novel I came up with the title, Josie’s Journey, which was so fitting at the time. One day the title Towel Dry and a Good Cry just came to me and I knew that’s what I was going to call my first novel and decided to name the score for the book trailer, Josie’s Journey. This time around I’ve had no miraculous epiphany yet on a title, so the answer to the question is, I have no title, but in my mind, for now, I’m calling it Josie’s Journey II!

2. Where did the idea come from for your book?

The idea for a book gradually evolved over my years of being a hairdresser. I didn’t realize back then it would turn into a three book series. Back in the day, I did a lot of journal writing about my career and originally wanted to write a textbook to help prepare young stylists out of beauty school how to cope with dealing with the public and being a full-time therapist. Later it became evident to me that a novel would be able to show what it was like to really stand behind a hairdressers chair and I wrote it from the eyes of a budding hairdresser in the eighties. Writing a novel also provided me with a different platform and it was a unique way to teach something truly profound about hairdressers around the world and to anyone who sits in their chair.

3. What genre does your book come under?

Chick Lit and Cosmetology

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Selina Gomez as Josie and Demi Lovato as Sadie.

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

The hair-raising exploits of Josie Capelli continue as she and her best friend Sadie confront the challenges of owning a hair salon with no employees to help out, as she attempts to raise her status in the community by getting involved in a cut-a-thon without pulling her own hair out, and as Josie tries to solve the mysterious behavior of her dream man who raises her suspicions of his true character and intentions for her, all the while enduring the continued harping on from her mother with an old-fashioned sense of morality.

6. Is your book self-published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?

I will self-publish again.

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I’ve been at it for six months. Not done yet and not sure when either.

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I really can’t answer that because I think I have a one of a kind.

9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?

My love of my hairdressing profession, my fellow hairdressers and the love for people is what inspired me.

10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

That would have to be all the juicy tidbits Josie hears on a daily basis from her clients that wouldn’t tell another soul, other than their hairdresser.

Please visit a special author, my friend and editor, Kathy Rhodes and check out her Next Big Thing! www.kathyrhodes.wordpress.com

Roaring 20’s Hair vs 80’s Hair

Posted on February 19, 2013 by judydeluca

I was recently in a used book store thumbing
through a book about the roaring twenties.
The women’s hairstyles from that era are my absolute favorite looks of
all time. The roaring twenties had very distinctive hairstyles. Hairstyles had become freer and so did the fashion.

Looking at some of the photos I realized how similar the styles were to Vidal Sassoon’s
collection from the seventies and eighties.

Vidal and his artistic team revolutionized the world of haircutting bringing about new hair trends for decades now. No other artistic team has done as much, in my opinion, to change the history of haircutting and styling in such a profound way. Just thought I’d share that.

I guess the saying holds true, what goes around comes around! Writing my novel, Towel Dry and a Good Cry, a kindle book, set in the eighties provided me with a great era to write about, especially the hair!

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

Cosmetology Kindle Book

Posted on February 13, 2013 by judydeluca

Do you really want to know what it’s like to be a cosmetologist?

After being in the cosmetology business for thirty three years I think I’ve learned a thing or two.

My novel, Towel Dry and a Good Cry, a kindle book, is my interpretation of what it’s like to really stand behind the chair of a cosmetologist.

Being a cosmetologist is not just about cutting hair and beauty school doesn’t prepare you for the real world of dealing with the public and being a confessor.

Towel Dry and a Good Cry will walk you through the life of, Josie Capelli, a new to the business hairdresser in the early 1980’s, her crazy best friend and her drama filled Italian family.

Cosmetologists, world-wide, would agree it doesn’t matter what country you live in the hairdresser/client dynamic is always the same.

I invite you to join Josie as she navigates her life as a cosmetologist through laughter and tears with this heartfelt story about truth and trust and love with a tangled web of characters. Some you’ll love some you’ll hate and some will leave your jaw hanging open! Watch the book trailer: www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

And as John Steinbeck so eloquently put it in this quote, is my sentiment exactly.

80’s Shoe Trends

Posted on February 11, 2013 by judydeluca

In my kindle book, Towel Dry and a Good Cry, which takes place in the early eighties, the main Character, Josie Capelli, mentions wearing Candies shoes.

Eighties shoe trends brought in some different styles never worn before. The jelly craze hit big and everyone sported a pair despite the blisters and sweaty feet you got from wearing them.

A few more favorites for summer time were the Famalore shoe and the Dr. Scholl.

High top sneakers were also becoming the rage and Reebok was the ‘in’ high top for girls. Josie would have had a pair like these in, Towel Dry and a Good Cry, because of her love of the color purple.

Slouch boots became popular with the straight leg and stir-up pants trend. These were my Zodiac boots I saved from the early eighties

The chunkies below were also from my personal collection and used in my book trailer for Towel Dry and a Good Cry. http://www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

Step into the eighties with Josie Capelli, a new to the business hairdresser, her crazy best friend and her drama filled Italian family as she navigates her life and career through laughter and tears with this heartfelt story about truth, trust and love with a tangled web of characters. Some you’ll love, some you’ll hate, and some will leave your jaw hanging open!

Available at your favorite ebook store.

Follow me on Pinterest for more on the 80’s

Cosmetology

Posted on February 3, 2013 by judydeluca

Do you really want to know what it’s like to be a cosmetologist?

After being in the cosmetology business for thirty three years I think I’ve learned a thing or two.

My novel, Towel Dry and a Good Cry, a kindle book, is my interpretation of what it’s like to really stand behind the chair of a hairdresser.

Being a cosmetologist is not just about cutting hair and beauty school doesn’t prepare you for the real world of dealing with the public and being a confessor.

Towel Dry and a Good Cry will walk you through the life of, Josie Capelli, a new to the business hairdresser in the early 1980’s, her crazy best friend and her drama filled Italian family.

Cosmetologists, world-wide, would agree it doesn’t matter what country you live in the hairdresser/client dynamic is always the same.

I invite you to join Josie as she navigates her life as a cosmetologist in the eighties through laughter and tears with this heartfelt story about truth and trust and love with a tangled web of characters. Some you’ll love some you’ll hate and some will leave your jaw hanging open! Watch the book trailer: www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

And as John Steinbeck so eloquently put it in this quote, is my sentiment exactly.

The Beauty Industry

Posted on February 3, 2013 by judydeluca

Do you really want to know what it’s like to be in the beauty industry?

After being in the beauty industry for thirty three years I think I’ve learned a thing or two.

My novel, Towel Dry and a Good Cry, a kindle book, is my interpretation of the beauty industry and what it’s like to really stand behind the chair of a hairdresser.

Being a hairdresser working in the beauty industry is not just about cutting hair and beauty school doesn’t prepare you for the real world of dealing with the public and being a confessor.

Towel Dry and a Good Cry will walk you through the life of, Josie Capelli, a new to the business hairdresser in the early 1980’s, her crazy best friend and her drama filled Italian family.

Hairdressers in the beauty industry, world-wide, would agree it doesn’t matter what country you live in the hairdresser/client dynamic is always the same.

I invite you to join Josie as she navigates her life as a hairdresser in the eighties through laughter and tears with this heartfelt story about truth and trust and love with a tangled web of characters. Some you’ll love some you’ll hate and some will leave your jaw hanging open! Watch the book trailer: www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

And as John Steinbeck so eloquently put it in this quote, is my sentiment exactly.

80’s Hair Trends

Posted on January 31, 2013 by judydeluca

One thing’s for sure, whether you did or didn’t live through the eighties hairstyles and fashion, Towel Dry and a Good Cry, my kindle book, will walk you through the eighties with the main character, Josie Capelli, a new to the business hairdresser, her crazy best friend and her drama filled Italian family.

Two driving forces led the way to the hairstyles of the eighties, The Dorothy Hamel haircut and the Farrah.

Dorothy Hamel’s haircut, in the mid-seventies, changed the history of hair. Her cut was considered a “blow cut” or precision haircut and back then I didn’t even know what that meant, but I wanted one. The key to making the cut look fuller was blow drying it for volume. So, everyone and their brother bought a blow dryer and sought out going to a salon for a blow-cut.

In the beginning of my kindle book, Towel Dry and a Good Cry, Josie Capelli describes her hair as looking like Farrah Fawcett’s. Farrah’s cut, of the late seventies, was the onset of the big-hairstyle craze of the eighties and women bought a variety of curling irons and hot rollers to create her look. Curling your whole head was a lot of work and woman wanted more staying power, perms were the answer.

The idea of the perm was to give more staying power, more volume and more hair to tease out. It was like the bigger the better hairstyle contest. Some wore their perms blown out and finished off with the curling iron. Others wore their bangs teased up high and the perm was left curly on the sides and the back of the hair. Carving out sideburns was also popular. When the sides of the hairdo were pulled out and teased away from the face, the sideburns gave a little something near the ear which also added character when the hair was pulled back in a scrunchie or bow. Men mostly sported their perms curly.

A girl’s best drug store friend for the hairstyles of the eighties became Rave and Aqua Net hairspray.

When Josie goes to the New York Hair Show she learns the newest trend, the bi-level, aka mullet or as I like to call it the moo-lay. The bi-level was cut short to severe on the sides and the back of the hair was worn longer. This style either was worn blown out and curled with the curling iron or just the front was blown out and the perm in the back dried curly.

If you wore a short hairstyle in the eighties, the back of it usually had a diamond shape to it so that part could be worn big, also.

The hairstyles of the eighties gave way to many new hair trends including the Jerri Curl and hair accessories, such as, scrunchies, bows and the banana clip.

In my opinion, the best mullet was worn by Billie Rae Cyrus because he wore his way after the trend was over and was notorious for it.

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

Hairstyles of the Eighties

Posted on January 27, 2013 by judydeluca

Two driving forces led the way to the hairstyles of the eighties, The Dorothy Hamel haircut and the Farrah.

A girl’s best drug store friend for the hairstyles of the eighties became Rave and Aqua Net hairspray.

If you wore a short hairstyle in the eighties, the back of it usually had a diamond shape to it so that part could be worn big, also.

The hairstyles of the eighties gave way to many new hair trends including the Jerri Curl and hair accessories, such as, scrunchies, bows and the banana clip.

In my opinion, the best mullet was worn by Billie Rae Cyrus because he wore his way after the trend was over and was notorious for it.

I invite you to join Josie through laughter and tears as she navigates her life as a hairdresser in the eighties and what she didn’t learn in school was that she was about to hear confessions as part of her job. This is a story of truth, trust and love surrounded by a web of characters. Some you’ll love some you’ll hate and some will leave your jaw hanging open.

Watch the book trailer: www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

Towel Dry and a Good Cry

Posted on January 21, 2013 by judydeluca

Thanks to my friends I’ve found a Capelli’s Hair Salon in Franklin, Tennessee and a Noggins Salon in Middleton, Massachusetts! Wouldn’t Josie Capelli, the main character in the novel Towel Dry and a Good Cry be proud?

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for beauty info and tips.

Hairdresser

Posted on January 8, 2013 by judydeluca

Do you really want to know what it’s like to be a hairdresser?

After being in the hairdressing business for thirty three years I think I’ve learned a thing or two.

My novel, Towel Dry and a Good Cry, a kindle book, is my interpretation of what it’s like to really stand behind the chair.

Being a hairdresser is not just about cutting hair. Beauty school doesn’t prepare the hairdresser for the real world of dealing with the public and being a confessor.

Towel Dry and a Good Cry will walk you through the life of, Josie Capelli, the main character, a new to the business hairdresser in the early eighties, her crazy best friend and her drama filled Italian family.

Hairdressers world-wide would agree it doesn’t matter what country you live in the hairdresser/client dynamic is always the same.

I invite you to join Josie as she navigates her life as a hairdresser in the eighties through laughter and tears in this heartfelt story about truth, trust and love with a tangled web of characters. Some you’ll love some you’ll hate and some will leave your jaw hanging open! Watch the book trailer: www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

And as John Steinbeck so eloquently put it in this quote, is my sentiment exactly.

Judy De Luca

Author / Hairstylist

Author Archives: judydeluca

About judydeluca

Legend of the Lenten Pretzel

Happy St. Josephs Day

The Decollete’

Hair Dressed In A Pompadour

A Photo For My Museum of Hair History

The Next Big Thing! (An Authors Blog Hop)

Roaring 20’s Hair vs 80’s Hair

Cosmetology Kindle Book

80’s Shoe Trends

Cosmetology

The Beauty Industry

80’s Hair Trends

Hairstyles of the Eighties

Towel Dry and a Good Cry

Hairdresser