Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 1/31/2023
HOLYOKE – Using career knowledge and anecdotes from her own career in cosmetology, Holyoke resident Jean Dietrich has published her first book, “Have Comb…Will Travel.”
Described by Dietrich as a “glimpse into a completely different and exciting world of cosmetology,” the new book follows a hairstylist in her middle age as she works through the competitive circuit of cosmetology. She added the premise was loosely based on her own life as she spent over four decades in the profession and competing in contests herself around the country before retiring.
“Come take a look at how middle-aged Joanna, a well-known hairstylist from Vermont, is doing the exciting ‘hair competition circuit.’ She finds that travel and challenge bring her a whole new busy life and a chance at love a second time around. Follow her in her travels all over the USA, France and Italy,” the book’s description reads.
Dietrich was a hairstylist, salon owner and cosmetology instructor for over four decades and still remains active as a hairstylist in the field of desairology [practice of funeral cosmetology, mortuary makeup and restorative arts]. She has been focused on writing this book for the last five years and noted she had started the book then, but with challenges getting the book published it fell off her radar, so to speak, until the last year.
“I put it on my bucket list, and I said, ‘I’m gonna give it a whirl,’ so here we go,” Dietrich said. “I always wanted to publish a book and so I’m looking forward to doing well with it.”
Dietrich added that her story is geared toward the life of a hairstylist and that people don’t realize the avenues available in the career field and in competition. She noted competitions were not only a way to showcase your work and meet others in the profession around the country, but winners of contests often see their workload and income rise.
As an example, Dietrich noted the main character in her book starts off in New England before going to a contest in San Francisco and more places around the world as she advances her career in the book.
“It’s kind of the story of how people can progress from just being a hairstylist, per se, and you could branch out and go into different avenues,” Dietrich said.
Dietrich noted she at one time was the president of the Holyoke Association for Cosmetology before working her way up and becoming the state’s association for cosmetology president, providing her with plenty of experience and perspective about the field.
The story hopes to shed some light into the world of cosmetology while also sharing an enjoyable story with adventures around the world according to Dietrich.
“Have Comb…Will Travel” is available on Amazon.com, Apple iTunes, or Barnes and Noble.