Friday, December 13, 2013

Catch The Waves, A Families Story!

                     How did it all begin you say?

On a desperation of my sister after using an chemical relaxer that took most of her hair right off her head. Back in the early eighties, the label on the relaxer had a long warning to the user. Sort of how medications list all the side effects. The package would list don't get it in your eyes because it would cause blindness. Hair breakage and burns etc. You never knew the potency of the relaxer or how old it was. It was the luck of the draw.( I have chosen not to serve relaxers to my client.) Well, she didn't want to cover-up with a wig, but she still had to go to work her good government job. She had come to our Mom for a solution. The funny thing was I had gotten my first hair weave while I lived in Las Vegas, Nevada (1980). The stylist had charged me $450.00 to install this cacophony of hair. It was huge, wild and curly. But, I loved every ringlet. I didn't have a clue of how to control it. Thinking back on it, that was a funny site! Well, when I moved back to Maryland, I didn't have any one to take it out. So like always, my Mom released me from this weave. She looked at the work and said " You paid $450.00 for that, I could have done that!" Back in high school, I would cut up wigs and have my Mom sew in the hair to give me the shag look (1975-76). (My Mother was an seamstress in her own right. She created Easter outfits for all seven daughter each year, and our summer play outfits.) I have always had an affinity for hair. 
     My Mom had an dream, she had dreamed of an way to put hair in my sister's hair. She drove to Washington, D.C. and created what would later be known as Catch The Waves. The hair was called Twisty, it was a wavy hair that could withstand water. It was an kanekalon hair that you didn't have to do anything to much to maintain the style for three month.
     My sister had gotten on the Metro train headed to work. She said women were falling over themselves, coming up to her and asking her where she had gotten her hair done. The main question she got that day and the following was, where are the braids? Can you give me her number? An phenomenal hair expression was born. All seven sisters and my Mom came together in our first meeting. The call to order and the first thing was giving the style a name. It was wavy and you had to catch it a certain way to put it in, I blurted out Catch The Waves!! The name was approved. My sister Mary drew the logo of an women with the waves, and Ava and we all gave input to created business cards, flyers and T-shirts. Next we set an price, back then we decided on $60.00. My Mom patented the process. Now to perfect the locking in of the hair, my Mom had us in girl scouts and I remembered an certain lock. We used it and the hair could not come undone unless cut.
     We had so many clients coming to the house, that neighbor got upset and had the association put us out of business. My Mom had never worked outside the home, raising nine children and loving my Air Force father was her full-time. It was kind of funny my youngest sister was in high school, no more babies. This was an good outlet for my Mom. She did not let the association shut her down. She found an building, paid an manager and made herself an cosmetologist apprentice. The business kept growing, she self studied and took classes at the college and went and took her test and received her license.
My sister Angie was attending the University of Maryland, she was in her third year, but was helping at the salon. She decided she loved doing hair. She decided to get her hair license also. 
     In 1987, I decided to do hair from home. Daycare for three children would be to much. What a blessing this business has been. I did Catch The Waves by Vashay until 1992 in Landover. I got a full-time job as an Computer Operator at DOE, Germantown. I still couldn't get over doing hair and would do hair on the weekend in Capitol Heights, at my client's homes and my townhouse in Germantown. I also decided to attend college, I stayed busy and loved getting on the Dean's list. Yes, it can be done!

I will skip to 1998, I was attending Jericho City of Praise, the Pastor had said God had anointed certain person with an spirit of prosperity. She made her way off the altar down among the members, cut through the crowd and came to me. She said that the anointing was already on me, but she was laying hands so that I might know. The next Sunday my sister Angie had hands laid on her also. With in a week BET Heart and Soul magazine called us. They had heard about Catch The Waves and wanted to come to film the salon. Awesome. Glory to God for opening doors. After this we had clients coming to Capitol Heights, Maryland from New York, Georgia, and LA, California.  
     We had always had fun doing our client's hair. They would call us the hair hospital because their hair would be healed and grow so long that we had to graduate them back to their own hair. We would tell stories, jokes and laugh. Our clients came for a hair style but it has always been more then that. We have prayed with sick clients and they have been healed in Jesus Holy name, from cancer, heartaches, and life issues. We have had women who wanted babies and have prayed that God would heal their womb, and have seen babies born. Not just these miracles, we would pray for their health, finances, husbands and children. God only knows the lives that has been touched. We have had an love for the spirit and souls of these women. It has been an honor to share our life and talents for over 25 years. My mother is in her eighties, she still works everyday. I honor her now in this post her name is Espanola, (Nola) Floyd. Thank you Mom for having a dream. Thank you for your quiet and gentle spirit. Thank you for a loving and giving heart. I love you.

This year in March the family came together and cleared everything from the salon. The grandchildren painted, new floors were laid down. New furniture and decorations were put in place, we made it special. My Mom left Saturday after work and came in Tuesday morning to a brand new shop. She was speech less! All I can say is tears of joy was flowing all over the place as she witness our outpouring of love. Most of the family was there to see the unveiling. Thanks to my sister Eva for having the extra furniture and thought to give my Mom a birthday surprise. Catch The Waves is located at 9244 East Hampton Drive Suite 105 Capitol Heights MD.
20743.
Below are some pictures from the Remodel of Catch The Waves Salon.





                                


                                   Picture of Me! Gina

                           Call 301-535-3566 for more information!

 Mom, tears of joy!

                               
 Grandson Joseph


                                           
                   Overwhelmed with the transformation!





                            Client getting Catch The Waves.


Client can wear the hair long or cut in layers. Her own hair is at the base. The only thing seen is free flowing hair. The hair can be curled with heated rollers or blown straight.



Clients can choose any hair, human or kanekalon. The textures can be kinky curly, curls & wavy or straight. If the hair can be created, it can be Catch The Waves!   




Thank you all for viewing the post and sharing in a small taste of our families history.   

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