Holly’s Hobby.

Holly is actually an old co-workers sister that used to come into the salon often to hang out, help around the place, or just to get her hair cut or colored. Sometimes it’s fun to throw a family member to a friend you work with and let them do what they want with their hair. For one it’s a break for you and they get to see what someone else might like to do with their hair for a change. So one day I’m talking to Holly about what she’d like to do and what changes she might like for her style. Obviously when consulting with a client you’re touching their hair, feeling the shape of their face, and neck etc. She was self conscious because she had a skin condition and didn’t want me to be “grossed out” or offended by this. I should say that this was many years ago and I was dealing with my own “pimple” demons at the time. I never had break outs like most people did during their adolescence. I waited until I was in my 20’s for that. Like I waited until I was 19 to get the chicken pox. But that’s another story. So there I was hearing Holly apologize and asking me, ” does it bother you that I have psoriasis?” My response without thinking was, “does it bother you that I have pimples?” I didn’t think it was an odd response. She was so vulnerable in asking, what to me was a non important question.  My response was that of, she might be more turned off by my imperfections than me hers! Why would I have a problem with her having psoriasis? It’s a condition I learned about years earlier in beauty school. It’s not an issue that could be corrected with better hygiene or cleaning practices she wasn’t already doing. It’s a genetic condition she inherited from her father  and is common in certain racial backgrounds. I don’t work with her sibling now nor do I see Holly anymore but that’s one memory among others I have of her that I always remember. We shared our vulnerabilities with each other and laughed at the absurdity of it all. Being reminded of  our own humility is something that helps me  stay grounded in a world that is easy to perpetually float in.