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Danbury hair salon offers cuts, waves and a sympathetic ear Danbury News Times

04.08.11

Hairstylist TJ Jamison used to be called "Dr. Hair."

Working in a salon in the Danbury Fair mall in the 1980s, he made customers feel relaxed and always had a sympathetic ear ready to hear the day's problems. Today, Jamison and his wife, Tanisha, have their own salon, AT&J's Beauty Salon & Training Center , at 1B Division St. in Danbury.

While trained in styling all types of hair, their clientele consists primarily of people of color -- and for that clientele, the Jamisons offer more than just a cut and style.

"In the African-American community, going to a therapist is not something we're big on," Jamison said. "But sometimes just talking things out is therapy in itself."

Last year, when Danbury psychologist Ree LeBlanc Gunter stopped by, the Jamisons were interested in what she had to say. Gunter is a member of the Ethnic Diversity Task Force and was looking for stylists interested in being trained in a new program called Mindstylz.

"The hair salon is a type of gathering place where people come and talk," Gunter said. "Our interest was in teaching stylists how to identify signs of stress and depression so they could comfortably suggest going for help to their customers in need of that help."

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