Venus, Marina Del Rey, CA

Venus reminds me of a soldier, a proud soldier...maybe it's the buttons on her shoulder and her posture. I wonder what it would be like if all women were this proud at her age, no self-consciousness...just right there....here I am. Such a fantastic role model.

Southern Ladies #2 - Brantley, Alabama

I have never seen such camaraderie as I have at Sheila's in Brantley, Alabama. Madeleine brought flowers and later swept the floor, Suzie brought blueberries and Juanita folded hair towels while she was under the dryer. These "real" steel magnolias were so kind and they connected with each other and helped Sheila in her salon located at her house in this rural place in Alabama. Ruby and I followed directions that read like this, "right at church" "left at farm" - and somehow we found this wonderful house of amazing ladies.

Patti & Florette, California

A place for women to connect, to talk, to share joys, tragedies and everything from the color of paint for their house to how they are getting through the loss of their spouse. They count on seeing each other the same time every week and that's a good feeling...to spend time with "sisters" and shoot the breeze or tell a joke. In our generation now, we do our own hair mostly, and go to the salon periodically, not every week. I see my hairstylist about every 3 months and when I do, we talk and pick up where we left off...so I can imagine the intimacy shared by going once a week.

Eunice, Memphis, TN

Eunice is 75 years old and has been a hairstylist in Memphis for 54 years at Gould's Salon. She has seen times and techniques change more than anybody I have interviewed. I don't doubt that someday she will have a book written about her life and I hope to be part of that process someday. She is a character, and I mean that in a loving way, a woman with character that consists of love and ethics and patience and faith. I can't wait to share the video footage of Eunice, but for now, I hope you can look into her eyes in this photo and see how immensely full they are of stories and experience.

Mrs. Guste, New Orleans, LA

Mrs. Guste lost a lot in Katrina, but in so many ways, she didn't lose a thing...not her humor, not her gratitude, not her steadfast belief that everything is borrowed and when it leaves, it's time to give it back. She did not let me take her photo while under the dryer, but when she was almost done getting her hair styled, and afterwards, wow...she was a natural model, she had so much pizazz and style!!

Elizabeth, Brantley, AL

Elizabeth is a teacher who taught Sheila (her hair-stylist), Sheila's mom and Sheila's daughter. Three generations, one teacher...pretty amazing. Elizabeth's hair is like freshly fallen snow, soft, full and full of wonder. She is one of the "Southern Ladies" group in Alabama and a real Steel Magnolia.