
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 11, 1991                   TAG: 9104120702
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH/ SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MONEY FOR HAIR IS ALWAYS THERE, SAYS SALON OWNER

When Sylvia Wade opened her beauty salon in 1984, the nation was recovering from a recession. Her mother, Yolanda Johnson, tried to talk her out of it, but Wade set up for business in the basement of her Northwest Roanoke home anyway.

Seven years later, the economy is in another downturn, but Wade is still doing well.

Even when money is tight, she said, "some people will take care of their hair no matter what."

Customers keep coming back because the salon is homelike and comfortable, she said. And since Wade doesn't take walk-ins, there is little waiting.

Some customers come and go, but others are loyal, she said. Wade keeps records of what she does to each customer's hair, and calls when it's time for another appointment. This system helps her avoid over-treating hair.

Wade said she also spends time at workshops and trade shows, updating her skills and learning new styles and techniques.

"You have to do that" to keep customers coming in, she said.

Three years ago, Wade thought about moving the salon out of her home and into a commercial building. That hasn't happened yet, but there has been a change at the salon. Her daughter, Tammy Guerrant, is working in the shop while she finishes beauty school.

"I'm one of the lucky ones," Guerrant said. Most cosmetologists who are starting out split their profits with the salon owner, Guerrant said, but Wade allows her keep fees from her own clients. In return, Guerrant will shampoo her mother's clients' hair. With the extra help, Wade can see up to 11 clients a day, several more than when she was working alone.

Guerrant, 30, shares her mother's lifelong interest in styling hair.

"It's not really like a job to me."

Guerrant is especially good at weaving and extensions, Wade said.

Although Guerrant put off getting her license, she has been working for several years and has attended beauty schools in Atlanta and Roanoke. She will graduate from Virginia Hair Academy in May.

"She pushed me into getting my license," Guerrant said, motioning toward Wade.

"It makes you more professional." Wade said. Unlicensed hairstylists, "make it bad for beauticians."

Wade said she wants to build a separate shampoo area in an unused part of the basement soon, but that's something that will come "a little at a time. Money is not that easy to come by."

Guerrant said she would like to live in a bigger city, but if she did, she said, she would probably end up working for someone else.

Wade said she hopes Guerrant will stay. Her sister, Patricia Cabbler, operates a salon in her house across the street and also has a daughter working with her. Wade said she and Cabbler occasionally talk about the four of them going into business together.

And perhaps someday there may be a fifth beautician in the family.

Guerrant's 3-year-old daughter, Miaisha, loves to watch her grandmother work, Guerrant said, and sometimes Wade lets her take curlers out of a customer's hair.

"She's mom's assistant," Guerrant said.

by CNB