After 40 years in cosmetology, Rhonda Wilson going strong

WASHINGTON — Rhonda Wilson has owned Hair Graphics Studio in Washington since 1988, five years after she finished cosmetology school.

A lot has changed in that time. For one thing, the business has moved three times, now located at 109 North Iowa Ave. For another, the industry itself has evolved, bringing style choices and trends with it.

“You have to keep learning as long as you are a professional hair stylist,” Wilson said. “The styles are ever-evolving … as long as you are a dedicated stylist, you will seek out YouTube videos, you will go to continuing education classes, hair shows.”

Even with 40 years of experience, the lessons from distributors and professionals remain helpful as new techniques develop.

“It’s kind of like fashion, you have to be aware of what’s in style,” Wilson said. “Bleaches, we used to have to wrap to process, now we have what they call open air bleach … we used to give spiral perms, you hardly ever see people get perms anymore (and) your products have changed. We have dry shampoo now.”

Experience does help, though. Wilson said she didn’t struggle to keep up with changes either. While change is slower in more conservative communities like Washington, Wilson said she embraced it.

“I try to push the limit, I try to get people to try something different,” she said.

Like every other industry, cosmetologists find themselves staring down price jumps, that either cut into profit margins or drive customers away. For the field of largely self-employed women, however, the changes have an outsized impact.

“Our products go up too,” Wilson said. “We deserve a raise, but that’s probably the hardest for me to do because I know people are money-conscious in this town … I haven’t raised my prices in probably 20 years.”

Another issue Wilson said customers didn’t always grasp was the amount of work that goes into the craft.

“People also don’t understand the time and the commitment and the money that’s involved to go for big changes,” she said. “I had a lady that wanted to go from a box-black color to the gray, and it’s like a 9-hour process. It’s an all day long chemical service.”

Still, Wilson keeps coming back, day after day. Pride is a major motivator.

Her work isn’t limited to the salon. Wilson commonly serves clients in nursing homes and even funeral homes, an act she said demonstrated incredible trust.

“Even when Marde calls and says ‘I’m sorry to tell you this, but such-and-such passed away, their wishes were that you do their hair,’ I’m thrilled to death,” she said. “I get to go do it that one last time … it’s my craft, and they have appreciated everything I’ve done for them, to make them feel better.”

Another point of pride is the proteges: those that have worked for her before leaving to open up their own stores in town.

“That’s an achievement because they look for that extra knowledge, and since I’m a seasoned hairdresser, I help give them pointers,” she said. “It’s just to see the profession grow.”

With so much to be proud of, Wilson said she was happy where she was at.

“It’s about helping people feel good,” she said. “I’m doing something right if I’ve been here for 40 years.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com