Seen it all -- hairstylist has been to bangs and back

Mary Hurst is starting her 41st year as a hairstylist, 22 of those years at her "Touch of Class" shop in Arapahoe. Mary said her husband, Bob, "spoils us rotten," and presented a pink rose to each customer who came in for a prom hairdo this spring. "That was so thoughtful," Mary said. Mary admitted that even she -- a hairstylist -- has "bad hair days." She laughed, "There are days we have trouble doing our own hair. It's kinda like the cobbler's kids ... ," referring to the fairy tale about the cobbler's kids running around barefoot. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)

ARAPAHOE -- From "helmet hair" to "mall bangs," and poodle perms to ponytail haircuts. Mary Hurst of Arapahoe has seen -- and created -- them all.

Forty years ago, Mary was backcombing "beehive helmets" and sitting practically everyone under hair dryers. Today, Mary designs hair styles that are much more relaxed, and she has only two customers who sit in curlers under dryers.

Mary's dad wanted her to be a music teacher. "He said 'loose women' go to beauty school," Mary laughed. But Mary pursued her dream, walking 16 blocks to the beauty college in Norfolk and cleaning it after classes.

Mary had a shop in Laurel for 18 years, and has operated her "Touch of Class" shop in Arapahoe -- in the landmark black-stained house on the western edge of Arapahoe -- for 22 years.

When Mary started, hairstylists cut hair with razors and women wore beehive hairstyles

When everyone wanted that "backcombed football helmet," Mary said, she worked from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. to fit everyone in.

"Then there was the period of the wiglet," Mary laughed, "this little mouse of hair that had to be backcombed in with everything else."

With the '70s came what Mary calls "the poodle look. You know, you had the tight perm and just let it go ... you wore it curly." Mary feels hairstylists lost some of their professionalism with that era.

The poodle evolved over time into the now-dreaded "mall bangs," the terrifically-upteased nearly-vertical bangs that curled into a little flip forward at the top.

The newest thing is a ponytail cut, Mary said. The hair is tied into ponytails all over and it's cut with specialized thinning shears.

"You can keep the length, and it creates so much volume," Mary said. "We're having a ton of fun with it."

Mary has watched fads and fashions, tricks and techniques come and go -- razors and scissors, curling irons, blow dryers, curlers.

"It's fun sometimes to see things come back," Mary said. The flip is back, she, said, yet, today, it's more casual than the "helmet with the flip" of the '60s.

Bangs are making a comeback, she said, and laughed, "Oh, dear, is Farrah Fawcett coming back?"

Colors and coloring techniques are much better than they used to be, Mary said. "The henna period did good things for you hair, but the colors were pretty bad," she said.

Mary and fellow hairstylist Shayla Hill keep up on trends and techniques by attending continuing education classes offered by major suppliers.

"Without the changes and the advances over the years, this could be a really boring job," Mary said.

Mary and Shayla stay current on what their customers want, and offer tanning beds, spray tans, body wraps, manicures and pedicures. The two women like to offer new things to customers, and educate them on hair care, hairstyles and skin care.

"I like nothing better than when someone comes and says, 'I want something new. Do what you want,' " Mary said.

A hug often goes along with a new hair style, or just about any visit to Mary's. Mary said. "This is one of the last professions where we can touch people without gloves," she said.

"Shayla and I are both huggy-feeling people," Mary chuckled. "It's very rewarding when someone comes in with a frown, she gets a new hairstyle and a hug, and she goes out with a smile."

Mary said, "We have the ability for people to have a really good day, or a really bad day."

Mary said communication is a very valuable skill in any business, yet it is especially helpful in a style shop. "We'll look at lots of different books, at lots of lengths and styles," Mary said. "Books will save tons of unhappiness, because a bad haircut can ruin more than one day."

Despite her father's admonition about "loose women," Mary considers herself a professional, and said, "We pride ourselves in our shop."

She and Shayla defy the image of the gossip-mongering beautician. "I hate that reputation," Mary said. "We never, ever repeat anything we hear in here."

She continued, "That's part of the reason we're successful. Our customers can trust us not to tell anyone what's said here."

"We're very good listeners," Mary said. "I have two brothers who are shrinks. I tell them I do it everyday for free."

Mary protects the reputation of her shop, and considers it an honor that so many customers and families have trusted her -- not only with their hair, but with their feelings -- for so many years.

"I'm part of so many lives," Mary said. "First haircuts, confirmation, prom, wedding. I get to share in all their very special days."