Da Kink in My Hair

It’s a Saturday - one of the busiest days in the salon and Novelette discovers that Joy hasn’t filled in the appointment book. Joy tells Novelette there is more than one way of doing things and reels off some of the day’s appointments.

It’s obvious to everyone but the Campbell sisters that Dwayne, the hair care salesman, is interested in Novelette. But that doesn’t stop Joy from making a pass at him and inviting him out on a date. Nigel saves her from a humiliating rejection by pretending to be interested in her.

When Joy turns a staid, older woman’s hair into an outrageous dance-hall style, Novelette admonishes her staff and allows Starr to try her hand at ‘fixing’ the woman’s hair, much to Joy’s chagrin. Joy and Starr continue to clash, which results in Novelette buying ugly smocks for them to wear at work.

It’s the hottest day of the year – in Toronto, and in the shop. Caribana has filled the city with exciting visitors and sexy festivities. And everyone’s off to the parties all except Starr that is. The shop itself is a perfect microcosm of all that, bustling with activity, pulsing with music - except the air conditioner is on the fritz… again.

A reporter from Toronto's top Caribbean magazine, Pride Magazine, interviews Novelette for a spot in their upcoming issue on ‘Women of Distinction.’

On a Saturday morning before the shop opens, Starr catches Nigel at a cheque-cashing place. The sparks fly between the two as usual, and she accuses him of sending money to another girl back home. But Nigel’s answer this time is serious.

Tensions between the sisters run high as Joy begrudgingly packs to catch a flight to Jamaica to care for their ailing (and cantankerous) mother. Though well aware of the strain, Novelette finds her thoughts occupied by concerns with a different family member… Dre.

When a white man (Matty) visits the salon, Joy mistakes him for Starr’s boyfriend. Nigel overhears Starr on the phone as she discovers her credit card has been cancelled, and demands to know what’s going on with her.

Joy’s relationship with Gary is climbing the thermometer, going from ‘hot’ to ‘scorching.’ Unfortunately, Joy’s got a teenager’s problem - Letty doesn’t want her bringing men upstairs to her room as she wants Joy to set a positive example to Dre.

Mrs. Campbell has come all the way from Jamaica for Novelette's birthday - a surprise orchestrated by Joy. Only, she’s two days early and full of complaints. Mrs. Campbell insists that there be a party for Letty's birthday. Novelette tries to tell her that she has already made plans (with Dre and Dwayne), but Mrs. Campbell barely hears her, and enlists Joy to assist her in organizing the party.

Joy and Gary are on a date at Maxine’s when she bumps into Patrick, a childhood friend. Gary orders a taken-aback Joy not to see Patrick again - she’s his woman now. And then he presents her with the promise ring. Joy’s ‘dancing on air.’

Starr is sent into a very particular type of emotional tailspin when a client’s husband walks in. Turns out he’s not just any man, but her college boyfriend made good, the ‘one that got away.’

For the shop’s first entry in the local Hair Shop Showdown, Novelette has marshalled Starr and Nigel into helping her create a classy and upscale exhibition to match her vision of her shop. Joy, however, has studied the hair show winners for years and is convinced that Letty’s approach simply won’t do - the judges want sassy, not classy!