Penny — Barber Kelly !!install!!

Her salon had a strict rule: No gossip that destroys, and no silence that excludes. She kept a pot of coffee on at all times and a “listening chair” that faced away from the mirror, so clients could talk without watching their own reflections judge them.

So the next time you slide into a salon chair and someone asks, “What are we doing today?”—remember Penny. And if you’re lucky, you’ll find a stylist who listens just as well as she cuts. Did you have a mentor like Penny in your life? Share your “salon story” in the comments below. penny barber kelly

She trained over 200 apprentices in her 40-year career, most of whom went on to open their own inclusive spaces. When asked for her secret to hiring, she would say: “I don't hire for the best curl. I hire for the biggest heart.” In a 2023 viral tweet, a granddaughter shared a photo of her aging grandmother wearing a perfect silver bob. The caption read: “Grandma says she’s had the same haircut for 35 years. The stylist? Penny Barber Kelly. She’s 89 and still cuts from her kitchen once a month. Legend.” Her salon had a strict rule: No gossip