Category Archives: Towel Dry and a Good Cry

A Story For Hairdressers

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I thought I’d share one of my salon experiences. I know this is going to seem like a story out of my book, Towel Dry and a Good Cry, but it’s something that really happened to me at my salon, years ago.

A photo of a redhead in this month’s Launchpad magazine made me think of a client I hadn’t seen in a very long time and brought back a horrifying memory of the time she had a seizure in my salon. I mean, foaming at the mouth, full-blown seizure.

I had worked her in first thing in the morning, before my day got crazy and before my employee’s got there. I was alone with this woman, having a seizure, and her eight year old daughter that accompanied her.

It’s amazing how many thoughts run through your mind in a split second. Besides screeching and running to the telephone I was thinking I was glad I had taken a CPR class and how I’d never  forget my first experience of putting my lips on a blow up corpse and then giving it compressions!

Her eight year old daughter took charge and raised her hand up to me, meaning to wait a second. And in a second, it was over. Obviously, this was part of this little girl’s life because she was so calm about it.

I’ve worked in plenty of salons that didn’t even have a First Aid kit. All hairdressers can relate to some time or other having to scrounge around the salon for a Band-Aid after you’ve cut yourself!

As many people as hairdressers see a day I’m thinking it’s not a bad idea to take a CPR course.

Hairdressers, are you familiar with my enovel, Towel Dry and a Good Cry? I wrote it for us to show the world there is more to hairdressing than just cutting hair.

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!

Take a look at the book trailer:

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.

*******

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

 

 

 

 

When Fingernails Turn Yellow

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Many nail polish brands contain the adhesive nitrocellulose, which can turn the fingernail yellow when exposed to sunlight. One way to avoid the fingernail turning yellow is to apply a topcoat that contains cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) over your nail polish. This will prevent your nails from discoloration.nails

A few of my favorite products to prevent yellowing of the fingernails are: Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, Orly Sunscreen for Nails and Essie Nonyellowing Topcoat.

A fast fix for fingernails that have yellowed or have been stained is, use a teeth whitening strip applied to the nail or mix two tablespoons of lemon juice in a cup of warm water, soak for five minutes and wipe vigorously with a soft cloth.nails 3

For more beauty tips and info 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

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

 

 

 

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

 

The American Flag Code

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Proud Americans across the nation show their patriotism by displaying the American flag.   It shows respect for our country and those in uniform who have defended it. A lot of people, myself included, didn’t really know there was an existing American Flag Code.

Here’s the American Flag Code in a nutshell:

The federal law known as the “Flag Code” is a guide for handling and displaying Old Glory.  These are the code’s guidelines:

  • It’s ok to display the flag around the clock, but you should illuminate it during the nighttime.
  • Hoist it briskly and lower slowly and ceremoniously.
  • Be sure to bring your flag in and out of rain or snow, unless it’s made of an all-weather material.
  • If you would like to display a flag on your car or truck, affix it to the chassis or clamp it to the right front fender.
  • The blue and white stars field known as “the union” should always be up: at the top of the flag if it’s on a staff or pole, uppermost and to the observer’s left if the flag is being displayed horizontally or vertically against a wall.
  • bunting the flag
  • Bunting is an acceptable patriotic display; arrange it with the blue portion at the top, the white in the middle and the red at the bottom.
  • The flag should be kept from touching the ground, floor, water or anything beneath it.
  • When a flag becomes worn and is in such a condition that it no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified way.  One way to do that is to give the flag to a local VFW for proper disposal.

Happy Fourth of July!

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

 

 

 

When to Fly the American Flag at Half-Staff

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flag 2With the Fourth of July around the corner you can’t help but think about Old Glory. Here are some interesting facts about when to fly the United States flag at half-staff.

The customary dates to fly the flag at half-staff are:

Peace Officers Memorial Day, May 15th (unless that day is also Armed Forces Day) (sunrise to sunset)

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Memorial Day, last Monday in May (sunrise to noon only, then raised briskly to the top of the staff until sunset)

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Patriot Day, September 11th (sunrise to sunset)

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, December 7th (sunrise to sunset)

There are some exceptions to these customary dates, though, when the President of the United States directs that the flag be flown from the half-staff position upon the death of great individuals or current or former government officials, as a mark of respect to their memory.

For example: On 911, for all our fallen heroes.

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For flags that can’t be lowered such as those on many homes, a black ribbon or streamer can be attached to the top of the flag pole and is acceptable practice.

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In the early days of our country, no regulations existed for flying the flag at half-staff and, as a result, there were many conflicting policies.  But on March 1, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower issued a proclamation on the proper times.

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July. Next week more on Old Glory.

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

Follow me on Pinterest for beauty info and tips.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

My Favorite Quotes From Dolly Parton

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DollyI just love Dolly Parton!  Every time I hear these three quotes from her I have to laugh.

“Lot’s of women buy just as many makeup things as I do.  They just don’t wear them all at the same time.”

“It costs a lot of money to look this cheap, honey.”

“It’s a good thing I was born a girl, otherwise I’d be a drag queen.”

Dolly is a musician, singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist and author.

Speaking of authors,

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.

 

 

 

 

Legend of the Lenten Pretzel

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Pretzel

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

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St. Joseph

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

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

 

 

 

 

Hair Dressed In A Pompadour

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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 .

Marie A

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.

gibson girl pomp

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.

bogart pomp

40's male40s pompbetty grable pompold female pomp

Again, in the 50’s and 60’s.

cash pompjames deam pomppresley pompmannix pomp

The Grunge Era in the 80’s.

stray cat pomp

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

beiber pompgwen pompMiley pompmodern pomprere pompold bw pomp

And the best of all….Donald Trump

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