Naderh Afshar changes lives everyday.
Students walk into her shop looking for a change, and they leave with a new look and a satisfied smile. Afshar prides herself on the fact that she is able to look at a student's face and envision the haircut that will leave them with confidence and satisfaction.
She wants other students to ask in awe, "Where did you get that haircut?"
Afshar, the owner of Rosanne's Hair Cutting Shop located in The Commons, has been cutting hair for 22 years. She began working at Roseanne's in 1998 and after six years of working at the shop and becoming great friends with the owner, Roseanne decided to sell the shop and she encouraged Afshar to buy it from her.
"I could not believe it," Afshar said. "I thought she was lying. I knew she loved the place. Then she asked me, 'Why you don't buy it?' I didn't know if I could manage but I eventually bought it, and I am very happy."
Afshar first visited Buffalo from Iran because her husband was attending school in the city. The second time, she came with a suitcase and stayed for good. She moved to the City of Good Neighbors in 1988 with her son and husband.
In Iran, Afshar was an elementary school teacher. At first she loved working with kids but after two years, she couldn't stand it. She took moving to America as a chance to start over and find her new calling.
At first, her son wasn't old enough to enroll in school, so she was a happy stay-at-home mom while her husband went to work. However, when it came time to send her son to kindergarten, she knew she had to find a job so she would be able stay busy during the day.
She contemplated whether to take two years to get her associates degree in interior designing or go to beauty school for a year to become a hair stylist.
Since it took less time to get her hair-cutting license, she started a new career path as a stylist. Afshar has always had a passion for styling - whether it was with experimenting with hair, fashion or even decorating, she loves being creative.
"You definitely have to love whatever you do," Afshar said. "If you don't, then you're not going to enjoy it. You're going to be miserable everyday when you go to work and come back from work. Honestly, I love cutting hair."
She used to do everything around the salon - facials, waxing, highlight, color and cuts. Since she started managing the store, Afshar only cuts hair and helps the employees.
Megan Maroney, a hair stylist at Roseanne's for four years, said working for Afshar is like working with family. The staff is solely made up of girls. Maroney originally thought working in an environment with only females would be full of drama, but according to her, they are like sisters.
Maroney describes Afshar as a very caring person but also very strict.
"We don't do any outside advertising, so basically our name is on that hair cut. So Nadie wants everything perfect," Maroney said. "We aren't going to give someone with a very professional or classic look a funky or crazy hairstyle. We definitely cater to the customers needs."
Afshar is proud of her reputation. Her clientele sees her as someone who will listen to students and provide them with the look they didn't know they wanted.
Jack Gaches, a junior American studies major, was referred to Rosanne's by one of his friends who told him they offer good haircuts. Gaches said he is not a picky person when it comes to someone cutting his hair. To him, it doesn't matter who does it as long as they make him look good.
"I was wandering around and thought, 'Why not walk in and see what they can do,'" Gaches said.
Stephen Denny, a sophomore chemical engineering major, made the decision to go from a long shaggy haircut to a close-cropped style and chose Rosanne's to make the transformation. At first, he picked Rosanne's because of the location. But after a great experience, he said he would go back for a second time.
Rosanne's prides itself on making its customers look and feel great. The stylists offer an array of different hair services at low cost to students - looking good at an affordable price is just a trip to The Commons away.
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