FORT WALTON BEACH — For nearly 55 years, Waldi Anguiano has stood with comb and scissors in hand, transforming her clients’ hair while hearing about their lives.
Next week will mark the end of her long career as a hairstylist.
“It’s very bittersweet,” said the 70-year-old Anguiano while she placed rollers in a client’s hair Thursday morning. “I keep crying when I think about it. I’m going to cry right now. But it’s time.”
She said one of her earliest memories is from the age of 6. She told her older sister she would be a hairstylist when she grew up and she would allow her sister to do the books while their mother cleaned.
“She was so upset. She went crying to my mother,” Anguiano said, laughing. “You know what, though? It came to pass. She was visiting and ended up doing my books once and when my mother was here she’d occasionally help me clean.”
Anguiano grew up in Germany, where she trained and worked for 10 years before marrying a serviceman and moving to the United States. She bought Salon Brigitta on Racetrack Road in 1980.
“I’ve had customers coming to me almost since I started here,” she said. “Some of them have been coming for almost 40 years. That’s what I’ll miss, the people. I love the people.”
Anguiano comes in early every morning to start on her weekly clients’ hair. Curlers, mousse and spray have surrounded her most of her life.
“I’m sure I’ll come back to visit,” Anguiano said. “I’ll miss this too much. These ladies are my family.”
Among her many endeavors, Anguiano’s greatest accomplishment in her opinion is her work with the American Cancer Society. The breast cancer survivor said for years she has participated in the “Look Good, Feel Better” program to bring in women going through chemotherapy and helping with their wigs and makeup.
“She has such a big heart,” said Rebecca Coleman, a hairstylist with Anguiano. “She’s a mother, sister, friend and boss. It’s not going to be the same here without her.”
Anguiano says that more than anything she hopes she’s made a difference in the lives of the people who have come into her shop over the years.
“I’d like to know I wasn’t here for nothing,” Anguiano said. “I want to know I did something worthwhile, and I think I have. That makes me smile.”
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.