Trimming the Blue Hairs, written by Cristin Frank, is an all-ages story that’s likely to touch your heart and make you laugh out loud.
Set in the Greater Buffalo area, Trimming the Blue Hairs shows the transformation of a hot-shot hair stylist into a visitor in the homes of the elderly, to do their hair.
At 25, Ella Boyce goes from selfish and absent minded, to sensitive and sweet. What starts as just doing the hair of her neighbor, turns into a new career and lifestyle.
As her new life unravels, so does her romance with Quinn, an admirable character with a big heart. At her high-profile salon, her friendships change and her hard work to get to the top begins to lack meaning.
This novel is fictional, but strings together some true-life stories experienced by Frank. The inspiration for using a hairstylist to go into homes of the elderly was taken from a hairstylist from Kathleen’s on Main.
“She told me she used to go into the homes of elderly and cut their hair. I have never forgotten that because I thought it was just the most selfless thing,” said Frank.
Frank used this idea to link together moments she had as a young girl and with the elderly in her own family. “I had all these stories and I started writing them down, they were great stories,” Frank said. Blurbs ranging from returning a used car the day after buying it to her aunt fake puking in front of a delivery boy were based on true-life events.
When Frank moved home to Buffalo, after living in Chicago, she realized how important family is to Buffalonians.
“I had that total life of its just me and I play volley ball, go to yoga class and go to the bars with my friends,” said Frank. “Then I come home and it was just a totally different culture for me. It was one that was really rewarding and had such an upside to it.”
When returning home, Frank’s grandfather was ill, inspiring the character of Mr. Sullivan. “My grandfather did have diabetes and lose both of his legs and that was just super profound in our family,” Frank said.
In the story Mr. Sullivan has a care taker, Leon, a simple character who makes a big impact on the Sullivan family. This character is based on Frank’s grandfather’s care taker, Allen Hardy.
“He was a wonderful person and he really was a pallbearer at the funeral,” Frank continued. “He was just giving and caring. He was just through and through a beautiful man.”
Trimming the Blue Hairs is likely to connect to anyone who has loved or cared for the elderly. Frank suggests readers could be granddaughters or grandmothers.
Between Ella and her friend Bindi teaching old ladies the Macarena, and Ella investigating her Great Aunt’s past, the story doesn’t get too heavy. However, Frank still touches on the heart ache that can be caused from dealing with people in their elder years.
“Everyone has their own sad story in them. Part of going back and writing this story, after going through all of this, is so people could commiserate,” Frank explained.
Frank’s book will be available in stores throughout Buffalo, and Talking Leaves is always willing to order any book for patrons.
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