La Riviere gives new looks at Shear Delight
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Mar 09/01) - Brushes, scissors and mirrors are Marlyce La Riviere's tools of the trade.
La Riviere, a stylist at Shear Delight Hairstyling for the past four years, says her favourite activity is colouring.
"With colouring, even if it's not quite what they want, you can always fix it," La Riviere pointed out.
She also likes doing up someone with long hair who's heading out to a special function.
"You can be a little bit more creative as well with that, your creativity can just totally come through."
La Riviere keeps up with the latest fashions through magazines. She said this isn't all that hard, as often old styles come back with just a few changes to make them fresh.
She said many of her customers don't have a clear idea what style they want, and let her do her own thing.
The stylist said that's just one reason she loves her job.
"That's one thing here, we have fun when we work. We try to involve our clients, our customers in that. It gets pretty wild in here some days.
"Saturdays are the worst. We're all pretty cheeky," La Riviere said.
With a laugh, she decided to dispel one myth.
"As far as the old saying where the hair salons are the gossip centres of any community, well, that's not true. We're usually the last ones to know around here."
La Riviere has been in town about nine years, and worked at another salon before coming to Shear Delight. The Acme, Alta., native praised her customers.
"I've worked in Calgary and I've worked in other smaller places, and I would have to say we have the most awesome customers up here. The customers are incredible, and that's what makes the job so much fun."
To become a stylist La Riviere enroled at Marvel College in Red Deer, Alberta for about nine months, and then she apprenticed for about the same length of time. After that she had to pass both a written and practical exam.
La Riviere taught at Marvel for about two years before coming to Inuvik.
La Riviere said she's trying to have the standards raised for those entering her profession, to help dispel the bad rap hair stylists have garnered.
