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Twentieth Anniversary for Ann-Michele's by Elizabeth
Eidlitz
December 1, 2008 — Hairdressing has been employed by nearly every
society for centuries: ancient Assyrians wore complicated curly hair
styles; Greek women in 400 BC dyed their hair; women of the Roman period
bleached their hair and styled it with crude curling irons; Japanese
women lacquered their elaborate coiffures with a precursor of modern-day
hair sprays.
Ann-Michele Dragsbaek, owner of Ann-Michele’s Uptown Hair Design, has
been cutting, combing, curling, clipping, pinning, waving, tinting,
spraying, straightening, and conditioning hair professionally for 20
years.
To recognize this anniversary, the Salon will hold an Open House with
refreshments, raffles and door prizes on December 6th —the day of the
Third Annual Hopkinton stroll.
A lifelong Hopkinton resident and a Boston marathon runner, Ann-Michele
has known since junior high school, that she wanted to be a hairdresser.
"There was a class called Career Ed, and I picked Cosmetology," she
said.
“It seemed glamorous. And I felt I had a knack for it,” she says. “I did
friends’ hair for weekends, and they liked it even before I went to hair
school.”
She enlarged her intuitive skills by studying hairdressing, nails and
skin care in a nine-month course at Blaine Beauty School in Boston.
"Coming from Hopkinton, was a real eye-opener. The school was
diverse. There were men with women's bodies — transvestites. You don't
see any of those clients in Hopkinton," she said.
"On the first day of school, my mother drove me. She didn't want me to
get out of the car. But I survived."
After completing the required one year of work under master stylist
Linda Lee, Ann-Michele bought the business, equipment, inventory, and
client list at 1 Claflin Common when Ms. Lee retired.
“Some clients who came 20 years ago are still here; they’ve seen me grow
up,” she adds.
Some helped the Hopkinton Hair Salon win the Metrowest Daily News
2008 #1 Readers Choice Award.
There is little turnover among employees: one of the two hairdressers
who work with Ann-Michele at the salon has been there 17 years, the
other 12 years. Kim Long, who does fingernails and toenails, and
Ann-Michele have been best friends since they were 16 years old and
students at Hopkinton High School.
Ann-Michele, who likes to wear her own blond hair long enough to get it
up when she chooses, observes current trends in her customers’
preferences.
Because many women don’t want their hair to be one color, foils and
highlights are very popular.
Teenage boys, since they’re wearing longer hair, are getting away from
the barber and needing a stylist.
Ann Michelle who keeps her prices reasonable-- A Wash, Cut and Blow Dry
for females costs $35; for males $26 — Recognizes ”it’s not the time to
raise prices right now.
Though she used to do daily appointments herself every day, she’s cut
back on hairdressing to 3 days a week. “With the demands of my three
daughters and son, I find myself busy driving children, ages 11, 9, 8,
and 3, everywhere.”
Does she think hairdressing might become a family tradition?
“My eight-year-old wants to be a hairdresser, but I think the others
have bigger plans.”
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