A bride booked nine hours of braids and brought her mother. That is why I now give a free hour.

Nine hours is a long time to sit with someone. By hour four the mother, who came to just watch, was telling me about her own wedding in 1989: no braids, no photographer, a borrowed dress and a husband who sang off key at the altar. By hour seven the bride was crying and so was I. I now give any mother of a bride or groom a free hour, shoulders and scalp, while the work goes on. Book braids on weekdays, I keep two slots for brides each month.