Category Archives: Reading Suggestions

From The Farrah Haircut To The Bi-level aka Mullet Haircut

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I set the time of my ebook, Towel Dry and a Good Cry, in the late seventies and early eighties because it was a crazy time for hair and I was a working hairdresser through it all! In this scene, Josie, the main character, attends the New York International Hair Show. There she learns all the newest trends, including the latest rage in haircutting, the Bi-level aka the Mullet. Until this new trend women wore their hair in the Farrah, long, full, permed and feathered back.

Farrahmullet

This is the scene from Towel Dry and a Good Cry:

Further down the row I was in, I saw a crowd gathering. A mini stage was set up, and a haircut was going on. The bi-level. I was trying to concentrate on every snip. Someone dressed in black with a headset microphone said to me, “Excuse me. Do you mind if I feel your hair? I’m Michael, with the cutting team.”

“Go for it.”

He ran his fingers through my hair and began scrunching it. “You have the perfect hair for this cut. Would you be my model for it?”

“Really? When, now?”

“Right now.”

I had to make a split-second decision. I thought it would be crazy and fun.

An assistant escorted me to a private area. Lots of models were running around in their underwear trying to find what they were supposed to be wearing. Makeup artists were applying, and assistants were washing colors out and blow drying. I was caped, shampooed, and brought up to the stage.

“What was your name again, darling?” he whispered.

“Josie.”

“This is Josie, everyone. She’s about to let me cut off some serious hair.”

Gulp.

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novelbook-cover04

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.

Excerpt From Towel Dry and a Good cry

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I was sweeping the hair from Phoebe when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I jumped. It was Wendell.

“Jeez, Wendell, you scared me.”

He grabbed me in an embrace, broom and all. “I finally found you,” he said in a tone that made me want to barf. “I finally found you.” He smelled like he’d bathed in cheap cologne. I got an instant headache.

“You should’ve called me. I had to go back to your other salon and finally, someone told me where you went.”

He bent his knees slightly and made a quick ball re-arrangement, never taking his psychotic eyes away from mine. Son-of-a-bitch, he caught me off guard. I looked down. I felt the heat of his gaze, but I didn’t look up. I focused on the floor.

“I figured word would get around.”

“This is a beautiful place, Josie.”

“Let me show you where to get shampooed.”

“Okay. Do you mind if I leave my book here?”

I pointed to a clear spot.

When I came back from directing him to the shampoo station, I glanced at his book. The Joy of Sex.

Haven’t read Towel Dry and a Good Cry, yet? You might want to check out the book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

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Typical Josie’s Mother

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Josie Capelli, the main character in my enovel, Towel Dry and a Good Cry, has an overbearing, overprotective, Italian Catholic mother. This scene was taken from the novel. Two of Josie’s brother’s go at it while they are visiting their parents and her mother takes charge of the situation.  Mind you, the brothers are in their mid-twenties!

“Now, boys,” my mother intervened. “Let’s go in and discuss this.”

“And you.” She grabbed Tony’s ear and proceeded to pull him in the house, “Stop annoying your brother.”

“Oww,” Tony squealed.

She let go of his ear when they got to the steps and slapped him upside the back of his head. He looked over his shoulder at me and rolled his eyes. I laughed silently and pointed my finger at him and mouthed, “Ha ha.” At least someone else but me was getting my mother’s wrath. He gave me the finger behind his back.

If you haven’t read, Towel Dry and a Good Cry yet, have a look at the book trailer and check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

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Excerpt From Towel Dry and a Good Cry

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A lot of hairdressers can relate to how it feels emotionally to have to shave a cancer patients hair off. I included a few scenarios regarding this particular subject in my novel because I felt the general public doesn’t have a clue what a hairdresser is enduring as well as the client. Here is one of those scenarios in  my novel, Towel Dry and a Good Cry. Josie, the main character, and hairdresser, goes to pick up her best friend Sadie, also a hairdresser, for an evening out.

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It was a nippy evening. The wind was blowing so ferociously it could blow you across the street. As I rang Sadie’s doorbell, a gust came up and pushed me. I had plastered my hair so much with hairspray it moved in the wind in one piece, like a wig. It was leather weather. This was fine with me because I could wear my favorite leather, a white midi. Sadie answered the door. Her makeup-less face was chalky, and at first glance there was darkness behind her eyes. I felt an instant lump in my stomach because I was sure she was going to tell me something bad.

“What’s wrong?” I said. “Have you been crying?”

“I have. I let it all get to me today.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“CANCER! That’s what I mean. Come upstairs.” She kicked the door shut.

Sadie took the stairs two at a time, and I followed. She sat Indian-style on the chenille-covered bed. I sat next to her.

“What the hell is going on, man? You’re scaring me.”

“I thought I could handle it, I really did, Josie.” Tears spilled from her lower eyelids. “At first, working at the Cancer Institute wasn’t bad. I just had to get over the initial shock of people actually going through chemo and losing their hair. But it’s still a total mind-blower to shave someone’s head. One lady that hadn’t even started chemo yet wanted me to shave her head so it would be her choice, not the chemo’s. Day in and day out, I listen to these sad stories, and it’s killing me. Doesn’t anyone see it’s hard for me, too? I’m the one who has to shave their head and make them feel good, while they are bawling their eyes out, and I’m doing it as their dignity drops to the floor, section by section. I can’t take it anymore.”

I tried to comfort her. I realized then this was a completely new torture of the trade. When a woman suffered the trauma of hair loss, the first place she turned to was her salon—her trusted hairdresser.

*******

I’m not going to tell you anymore because the next part is so heart wrenching I think the reader needs to read it themselves.

I have an excerpt from this scene in my video book trailer.

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

Next week I’m going to post another excerpt, this time it will be funny, I promise!

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Clothing of The 80’s

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I don’t think anything will surpass the styles and clothing of the 80’s! The clothing of the 80’s, the hair, and the fashion accessories were crazy.  As a hairdresser in the 80’s I lived through it all and thought it was a great time frame to set my novel, Towel Dry and a Good Cry, in.  If you’re a hairdresser or have ever stepped foot in a salon or lived through the eighties this is a must read.  If you’re Catholic or Italian, prepare for a lot of laughs. Join Josie Capelli, the main character, in this heartfelt story of truth, trust and love.

Here’s some great clothing from of the 80’s:

80's 2780's 380's 1480's 880's 780's 1680's 1780's 1880's 2380's 1980's 2080's 2180's 2480's 2280's 2680's 2580's 2980's 30Michael Jackson on Victory Tourgrunge 7

If you love the 80’s take a look at other blog posts I have on, 80’s fashion accessories, 80’s shoe trends, hairstyles of the 80’s and the Grunge Era.

Follow me on Pinterest for more on the 80’s.

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!

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

 

 

 

 

Fashion Accessories of the 80’s

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I don’t think anything will surpass the styles of the 80’s! The fashion accessories of the 80’s, the clothing and the hair were crazy.  As a hairdresser in the 80’s I lived through it all and thought it was a great time frame to set my novel, Towel Dry and a Good Cry, in.  If you’re a hairdresser or have ever stepped foot in a salon or lived through the eighties this is a must read.  If you’re Catholic or Italian, prepare for a lot of laughs. Join Josie Capelli, the main character, in this heartfelt story of truth, trust and love.

Here are some great fashion accessories of the 80’s:

80's 180's 280's 380's 480's 580's 680's 780's 980's 1080's 1180's 1280's 1380's 2880's 25bannana clipbendersFor more 80’s memorabilia or hair and beauty tips follow me on Pinterest.

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!

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

 

Facial Cleansers And The Loss Of Hydration

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face wash

Have you ever washed your face only to find your skin feels tight and about to crack?  That taut feeling is caused by the removal of all the hydration in your skin causing the skin to shrink.face wash 2

Try switching to a more moisturizing cleanser that will cleanse the skin and moisturize at the same time.  Always follow with a moisturizer for your skin type with a sunscreen.

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

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!

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Old Lady Cavendish

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When I was developing the character, Old Lady Cavendish, I had to give her a distinguished trait or something that would really identify with her appearance. A thought popped in my head of something that I had experienced in the past and the story turned out to be the perfect identifying trait for Old Lady Cavendish.

My father-in-law had an old scratchy wool gray cardigan he kept by the door. He’d put the sweater on when he felt cold or when he went outside. When he passed away I took the old wool cardigan and now it’s hung in my hall closet for when I’m cold or when I go outside. Every single time I wear that sweater I think of him with the fondest memories.  At one time I wanted to replace the buttons on the old gray cardigan to something more hip and you can see by the photo I still haven’t changed the buttons!

Here’s a quote from Towel Dry and a Good Cry about Old Lady Cavendish:

I followed her to the kitchen and set the food down on the counter. On her slightly stooped frame was the same sweater she wore every day. It didn’t matter the temperature out, she always had it on. It was a gray cardigan, her father’s, she’d told me. She had removed all the old gray buttons and replaced them with buttons that were a cluster of pearls and rhinestones. A more feminine touch to a not-so-feminine garment.

 

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.

 

 

The Zigzag Hair Part

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This is a little tip I’ve always given my clients in the salon.  This form of crisscrossing the hair part is beneficial for two reasons.  First, parting the hair in this way can create volume and second, lifting the hair with a little volume can also disguise the need for a color touch-up.

zigzag 1

     Place the first tooth of a regular comb directly on the scalp.  Without lifting the comb off the scalp draw a zigzag line down the part area until the part is the right length.  Before lifting the comb off the scalp, separate the hair from the first tooth of the comb with your index finger.  There you go!

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips

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.

 

 

 

 

Reading Suggestion

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Every once in a while I read a story that deeply moves me in some way. A story that I can’t get out of my head, and I can’t pick up another book until the marinating process is over.  I’m adding a book of this type to my reading suggestion list on my website.  It’s called, Sarah’s Key written by: Tatiana Rosnay. 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