Hairdresser stunned by anonymous note from customer
A hairdresser has been left speechless after receiving an anonymous and unexpected note from a client.
We all like to think our work has some positive impact on the people around us, but one woman never even realised how important a small interaction with a client month back had had, until she received a touching note in the mail.
Hairdresser Sara Verkuilen from Virginia in the United States was stunned when she opened the letter to discover a touching thankyou letter, explaining how much a simple haircut had brightened the day of an elderly woman suffering from dementia.
Penned by the husband of the woman, who sadly passed away months later, the note explained that Sara’s kind and attentive manner had put the woman at ease in a strange environment, and given her a huge boost in her final months.
Man thanks Sara for ‘last, best’ haircut of late wife’s life
The man explained that Sara had treated his wife as if she had worked with dementia patients her whole life, letting him sit by her while she had her hair done, and even adjusting her seat so he could watch he expression.
He told her his wife was so thrilled with the cut she kept visiting the bathroom to admire herself for the rest of the day.
“The haircut was one of the last, best moments of her life,” he wrote.
Shared to Facebook by Sara, the note was seen by hundreds of people who were left touched by the heartwarming tale.
“This is why I love what I do,” Sara captioned a snap of the photo. “Thank you for this letter.”
Plenty of people felt compelled to share their reactions to the adorable story.
“Tugs the heartstrings!” one woman wrote.
“This wrecked me,” another admitted. “Not gonna lie. Made me think of some people close to me.”
“I teared up a little,” someone else admitted.
One woman, another hairdresser, revealed these kinds of occurrences are commonplace in the profession, saying she was grateful to see some recognition for her fellow hair stylist’s hard work.
“I come across this so much in my profession so it wasn't something I never thought I'd see online,” she wrote.
“I'm just so happy it was shared so I now I know how many people know we are more than just stylists. We are the confidants of secrets and we really love our clients. I've taken secrets to my client’s graves.”
The ‘heartbreaking’ note in full:
Dear Sara,
This is a little bit awkward. But I’ve waited a really long time to pass this on to you.
My wife and I came in for haircuts shortly before Christmas of last year.
My wife was suffering from dementia and you treated her as if you’d been working with dementia patients all your life. You let us sit next to each other, and when it came time for her haircut you turned her chair towards me so I could watch her expression as you cut her hair.
It turned out even better than I thought it would.
Sadly, she died in March. And the haircut was one of the last, best moments of her life, She felt so pretty. She visited the mirror in her bathroom several times during the day and would come out beaming.
To see her so happy was priceless.
Looking back, it was likely one of dozens of haircuts you gave that day. But one which revitalised a woman’s sense of self and her singular beauty, I hope you always realise the power of your profession.
It’s so easy to take things like that for granted.
Sincerely,
A grateful customer.
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