On her days off, Sanders travels to homebound clients, like the Lauberts, as part of her desire to serve her customers who are in unique settings and circumstances.
Hazel Sanders visits Andy and Barbara Laubert’s Lexington home to cut their hair. Andy, who is 93, and Barbara, who is 90, have been married for 72 years. (Submitted Photo)
Barbara Laubert, a 90-year-old Lexington resident, and her 93-year-old husband Andy exchange compliments and smiles in their home. Andy Laubert, however, shares his best jokes with Hazel Sanders, owner of Hazel’s Hair Salon, as she trims his white curls.
Barbara said it’s a good feeling to keep up with her appearance while on hospice. After 72 years of marriage, it’s still special to be able to do things with her husband.
“It’s unique because most people don’t want to come to your home, and Hazel’s very happy to do that,” Barbara said. “We make her happy, and she makes us happy.”
On her days off, Sanders travels to homebound clients, like the Lauberts, as part of her desire to serve her customers who are in unique settings and circumstances.
This month, Sanders celebrated six years of business at her shop in Lexington, in addition to a previous six years in Crawford.
“If I’ve been cutting your hair for so many years, and you can’t come to me, I’m gonna come to you,” Sanders said. “I’m gonna go take care of you.”
Sanders runs her shop by herself. This allows her to know her customers “like family,” she said, and she enjoys seeing her homebound clients “kept up instead of forgotten” because “they feel like grandparents instead of customers.”
Sanders also enjoys serving the youngest community members, specializing in children’s first haircuts.
“I have literally gotten on the floor with my first haircuts to cut their hair,” Sanders said. “They’ll be walking around or crawling around, and I’m literally on the floor with them.”
Brandy Dozier, a customer of 10 years from Wilkes County, said Sanders gave her youngest son, Blade, his first haircut a few years ago. During the appointment, Sanders encouraged him and helped him feel excited about his new “big boy” hair, Dozier said.
Diane Hollars, a customer of over 10 years from Winterville, said her granddaughter Bella Sheridan, from Arnoldsville, had her first haircut with Sanders, too.
“She didn’t want to get her hair cut, but Hazel made her comfortable,” Hollars said. “Now she will only see Hazel.”
Sanders takes special care of children of all ages.
Dozier takes all three of her children, ranging from 5 to 15 years old, to Sanders because “she loves them like they’re all her own grandkids,” she said.
“People think I’m crazy taking my boys for a haircut almost 30 minutes away, but it’s
worth it,” she said. Hollars’ 13-year-old grandson, Jeremy Sheridan, and 14-year-old nephew, Jaden Hayes, will only get their hair cut by Sanders.
They call her “Nana Hazel,” Hollars said.
“My grandson has autism, and he is very finicky about who touches him or who he's around,” Hollars said. “Hazel made him very comfortable, and he won’t go to anybody else.”
Although Sanders only takes walk-ins, Hollars said she’s never waited longer than 15 minutes to be seen. Sanders has even stayed open late to ensure she was available to help Hollars and her family.
While Sanders offers haircuts, hair color, perms and waxing, she said she believes it’s her willingness to go above and beyond that keeps customers coming back for years.
“I feel like you have to be a part of their life for them to be a part of yours,” she said.
Sanders plans to repaint the shop and install a new sign with a new logo in the coming weeks. But as Sanders thinks about the future of her shop, she said plans to keep doing business in the same way.
“I like it the way it is,” she said.