Find a strand of hair and Cindy Strong can probably identify it for you. After all, the owner of The Salon and The Men”s Place, both in Lakeport”s High Street Village, has been styling hair for 33 years. Other than a period of training in southern California, the Clear Lake High School graduate has spent her career in Lake County. She started The Salon with two professional stylists. Now 16 work at the two popular locations.
1. What was the worst era for hair?
The ”80s. The year I got my license was in ”81. We all had big hair, fried hair, perm and color at the same time. Remember the high bangs? Hair was dry, frizzy and really, really big.
2. I thought you”d say the ”70s
No, the ”70s were tame. Hairstyles were pretty boring–hair parted down the middle. It was the ”80s.
3. How are things different than when you started?
When I started–well, my first job was at The Hairport. There was a row of hair dryers along the wall and each one had an ashtray. That”s what it was like–a cloud of smoke and hairspray. A lot of salons today you”ll never see one of those dryers, they have to drag it out of a closet. That”s a big change. And why were we spraying combustible hair spray around lit cigarettes?
4. No horrible accidents?
Not from that.
5. Who is more difficult–men or women?
I guess that depends on the individual. But for the most part men are pretty basic.
6. How long does it take to be good as a stylist?
It”s how long you want to work on it. Some people get comfortable. I”ve always been an advocate for continuing education. I go to Paul Mitchell courses and I teach. In the Men”s salon I”ll have experts come in and teach.
7. How often do new styles come along?
Every year. Clothing style dictates hair style. If you watch New York fashion week, you”ll see that right now fashion is bright colors, so hair is more muted. But it takes time for trends to catch up to us in the real world.
8. What do you think of Justin Bieber”s hair?
Well, I”m glad he changed it.
9. Who does yours?
I”ll have one of the girls do it. But my last time was at the Paul Mitchell salon in Vegas.
10. Not tempted to do it yourself?
Yeah, but I don”t. I have too many people working here to choose from.
