IT IS MY CONSIDERED OPINION THAT THE HAIRDRESSER IS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN ANY COMMUNITY. WHEN THE PUBLIC GOES TO A HAIRDRESSER, SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THEM. THEY FEEL SAFE, THEY RELAX. THE HAIRDRESSER KNOWS WHAT THEIR SKIN IS LIKE UNDER THE MAKEUP; THEY KNOW THEIR AGE; THEY DON’T HAVE TO KEEP UP ANY KIND OF PRETENSE. PEOPLE TELL A HAIRDRESSER THINGS THEY WOULDN’T DARE CONFESS TO A PRIEST AND THEY ARE OPEN ABOUT MATTERS THEY TRY TO CONCEAL FROM A DOCTOR. WHEN PEOPLE PLACE THEIR SECRET LIVES IN THE HAIRDRESSER’S HANDS, THE HAIRDRESSER GAINS AN AUTHORITY FEW OTHER PEOPLE ATTAIN. I HAVE HEARD HAIRDRESSERS QUOTED WITH COMPLETE CONVICTION ON ART, LITERATURE, POLITICS, ECONOMICS, CHILD CARE AND MORALS. I TELL YOU THAT A CLEVER, THOUGHTFUL, AMBITIOUS HAIRDRESSER WIELDS A POWER BEYOND THE COMPREHENSION OF MOST PEOPLE…”