US HAIRWAYS

A North Carolina hairdresser reflects on life, relationships, and lessons learned in this debut essay collection.

“Eyeballs deep in a quarter-life crisis” without a college degree, Reid says she knew that she would either “become a hairdresser or a bartender, based solely on my interest in people and my uncanny memory for details.” Since alcohol gave her a headache and her personality was “off-the-charts extroverted,” she opted to become a hairstylist and spent decades perfecting her craft. Drawn to the art of conversation and storytelling, she amassed many anecdotes from her time behind the chair, which she shares here in hilarious, irreverent detail.  Things learned range from new terminology for female anatomy to more meaningful lessons on communication and listening. (“It’s amazing how loudly body language can scream if you’re paying attention,” she notes.) Reid also shares stories from her own life, including her cheapskate tooth fairy growing up, the tragic death of her father (affectionately referred to as “Daddio” throughout), and her own personal quirks, like calling her husband by his full name (“Billy Reid”) and descriptions of her favorite gag gifts. A Charlotte-based author, Reid infuses her stories with Southern charm, trips to Waffle House, and feisty phrases (“Sweet Baby Jesus,” she declares upon realizing her father had “never gotten around” to signing his will before his death). Written during the Covid-19 lockdowns when the author needed an outlet to tell her stories since she missed “shooting the breeze with clients,” the book’s title came at the suggestion of humorist David Sedaris, whom she met at a book signing. Adorned with cute, fun drawings, the book’s eclectic assortment of essays and writing style effectively mimic the intimate, cheeky banter one would expect to hear at a Southern neighborhood salon. At just over 100 pages, this is an easy-to-read collection full of gossip, sass, and occasional poignancy that’ll make readers laugh so hard they’ll spit out their sweet tea.

A fun, energetic glimpse into the life of a hairdresser.