In case you haven’t heard, I’m back in the salon accepting clients on Sundays and Mondays.
Visit my booking site to learn more: https://rachel-lynn-carr.square.site/
Baby Lucius is Here!
Hello all, we are pleased to announce the birth of our youngest son, Lucius.
After a fairly uneventful induction, he was born just after midnight on May 18th. I could tell right away that he didn’t look the way my other boys had. His coloring was very dark and I didn’t know what was going on but I was grateful they let me hold him right away while they tried to help him breath. They took him back to the corner and gave him an oxygen mask and helped clean out his lungs and handed him back to me so he could nurse and it was so good to hold him but he started turning purple again and they needed to help him some more. At first they thought his lungs may just be underdeveloped, but what we found out later was he had collapsed a lung in his first breaths, despite his lungs (and the rest of him) being fully developed and in great health. It’s not a very common thing to happen, but it’s what happened to Richard when he was born, and now they have matching scars from where a chest tube needed to be put in.
Lucius was in the NICU for seven days. It is its own kind of sadness to have your baby sent by ambulance to a specialized NICU while you’re still recovering, and then to be in the postpartum ward hearing other people’s babies cry all night while you miss your own. We were never worried of serious or long term effects for Lucius, we knew they could fix what was wrong, but it was still so sad and difficult to be separated. And for most of those days we could visit but we couldn’t even hold him due to his chest tube.
But once his lungs were cleared he was completely, perfectly healthy. The hospital let me stay the night in one of the special NICU parent rooms for his last night in the hospital and it was so healing just to be able to be with him again. Since he’s been home he has been an easy baby. Eats, sleeps, snuggles, poops, repeat, repeat, repeat. Big brothers love him so sweetly, although the whole fuss has been a lot for them to handle also. Luckily Richard’s mom was in town for two weeks to watch them while we shuttled back and forth to the hospital. And we had many friends reaching out to help with meals, watching our kids, helping around the house and everything else.
Some photos below that I took in the hospital, they really show how peaceful this little baby boy is:
Not Booking Appointments
Hello!
Have we been out of touch during the pandemic? You should know, I’m about to go on maternity leave, so I will not be able to accommodate any more appointments.
Check back at the end of August for an update as I open my books for September. Until then, I am not booking any appointments. Feel free to check with the other folks at Luminosity Hair Studio (but everyone’s books are a little crazy right now with the post-vaccine rush, so expect it could take over a month to get in).
An Update for the New Year
Hello!
It’s been awhile since I’ve reached out. What is there to say when the year is just a loop of varying tragedies? Hope you all are well if I haven’t seen you recently. Felt a need for an update as things are both changing and not changing.
First off, many of you know I have already received my first dose of the Moderna vaccine, and due for my second dose February 11th. At this time, no changes in protocol have been suggested at the salon as we really haven’t gotten any guidance from our state board or any other agency. So until further notice even if all in the space are vaccinated, masks are still required, our capacity is still low and blow dryers are still turned off. We haven’t had any known cases within the salon (clients or stylists) and we do hope to keep it that way. Hopefully as the vaccine rollout continues and when Austin’s numbers come back down, we will be in a better place to re-evaluate protocol and will have gotten some proper guidance on how to proceed. Thank you to all the many clients I’ve seen who have done everything they can to keep me and my family safe and supported.
Second, just a reminder that online scheduling is still turned off. Email or text me (541-954-2017), I think I’m usually pretty quick to get back to clients. I will be taking a leave this summer (June and July) and plan to keep online scheduling off until my return in August. But I’m still here working, so reach out if you need something! Don’t wait until the last minute, our low capacity means my days in the salon are still limited.
Hope to see you soon!
Stay well,
Rachel Lynn Carr
So you want to get your hair done?
Hello all, time for an update!
So we’ve been moving through a very strange time, haven’t we? There has been so much change lately both in the state of the world and with the outlook in terms of our health, community, economy and politics. So that’s why there have been no updates. I am sure some of you are also in the weird head space where you aren’t sure if salons should be open yet, but you still want to get your hair done. I am with you there, and so are many of my clients. I trust all of my clients to make their own decisions for themselves and to make decisions with respect to the health of me and my family. I am also NOT taking new clients currently and my online booking is closed. If you want to get an appointment with me I am very slowly rebooking clients for a couple days per week. Some of these days I will be completely alone in the salon, other days I will be working with one other stylist.
Have I been appropriately isolated? That is for you to decide. I go to the grocery store once a week and we still have interactions with one family since we watch their baby. They work from home. We go on walks outside and swim at the state park, but always areas where it is easy to go above and beyond the 6′ of social distance. If any of that makes you nervous or uncomfortable, I encourage you to wait to get your hair done. For what it’s worth, I don’t anticipate having a social life in the near future whatsoever.
As for the salon as a whole, here is what my boss wants y’all to know:
Dear clients,
As we approach the ability to reopen the doors to Luminosity Hair we have taken the time to ensure that the safety of everyone is being considered. This is something that we are not taking lightly and are implementing these policies to best be able to avoid the spread of this terrible virus. We ask that you read over these policies, in order to be able to come see us, because we’re excited to see you. Please understand that we are now operating at a totally different pace and workload, so please be patient as we adjust to our new normal.
Clients:
Here are some changes that we ask you to abide by for the time being. We understand that some of these might sound a little overboard, but this is what has been determined as being best for everyone involved. Thank you.
When arriving for your appointment please stay in your car until you have been sent a text/called by your stylist to come inside. This helps us maintain the 4 people only limit that the salon has implemented. The salon door will remain locked at all times to avoid anyone from walking in without permission to do so.
Please be wearing a mask. We would prefer that you wear one that is attached behind your ears as it will make doing your hair much easier. Otherwise, you will have to hold the mask to your face at all times. We would also recommend that you wear a mask that has the nose piece, this will ensure you don’t end up with a mask full of hair. : )
We will only be doing shampoos for chemical clients and some haircut clients. If you don’t need to be shampooed, we ask that you allow us to skip that process. This will allow everyone to stay safer by having less contact with any surfaces in the salon. Also, blowouts will be, temporarily, not a part of service. It’s in the best interest of everyone to not offer them at this time.
We will have a touchless thermometer to be able to take temperatures upon arrival.
If you have been traveling for work or possibly exposed to someone with COVID-19, please stay at home.
Please do not touch the products on the shelves. If you do need anything, we will be happy to grab it for you and bag it up.
Upon arrival please go and wash your hands for the 20 seconds that the CDC recommends. We will also have hand sanitizer for whenever you feel you need some.
Please only arrive for your appointment alone. Extra guests are not allowed by state regulations. If you cannot come alone, please let your stylist know and you will be rescheduled for a better time.
Again, please remain patient with us as we start the soft reopening of Luminosity. Our scheduling is going to have to be much different than before, and we have to put the safety of everyone first. We appreciate all the support and love we’ve received, and cannot wait until we get to see your faces! (Even if behind a mask!) Feel free to reach out with any questions!
Lastly, it feels weird starting back at work when I was just barely learning to accept not working, but it feels right to me to have a really gradual re-opening. In my heart (and from my research) I feel safe working and taking care of my clients as I have for the last couple years: one-on-one in a very controlled space. I know many of you I won’t see for a long time. My heart is with you. Don’t be afraid to reach out just to say, “Hello.”
The only way right now to make an appointment is to text me: (541)954-2017 or send an email: rachellynn54@gmail.com. So reach out whenever you’re ready.
My beloved clients
Hello All!
I’ve reached out to a few individually, but wanted everyone to know: I have been back in the salon for about a month now. It has been really incredible to see my job turning into the career of my dreams! Every day that I go into the salon I get to have great conversations and use my creative powers to help people improve their day to day experiences with their hair. I get to stay close to home and take care of my baby on breaks. I even get to walk to work some days!
That said, there have been a lot of new bodies in my chair recently, and that has been so incredible. It’s like this area is a bottomless well of cool, down to earth people that have hair. This means that pre-booking or getting the spot you need a few weeks in advance is becoming important, especially for those that need weekend or evening times.
Have a great Sunday and hope to see you in my chair soon 🙂
Hospital Photos
Hello all! I wanted to share some amazing shots from the hospital, taken by Katie Denton Photography. She did such an incredible job capturing our first day with Gaius. I have one month left of maternity leave, so wanted to celebrate by sharing some of these treasured photos. (And don’t forget, I’m back from maternity leave May 8. Book here!)
Welcome to the World Gaius Alexander Carr
Wow! What a whirlwind of a week. Last Thursday Richard and I left Samson with some friends to enjoy a final date before new baby showed up. When we returned home was when it all started. All seemed normal and good and we were relieved he was good for our friends, but then he awoke at 3:30AM, sicker than he had ever been in his life. He couldn’t even remember having thrown up before so he didn’t understand what was happening. At that point I had two days left of work so I was relieved that Richard and I seemed completely fine. We did our best to comfort Samson for his 24 hour bug and we were all tired but knew there was just a little bit of work for me and then we could enjoy some time of relaxation before new baby arrived.
Well, my last day of work went relatively well, but I could tell by the end of the day there was some serious pressure building and I was uncomfortable even just sitting through a haircut. When I got home a little after 4pm, Richard was barely holding it together, he was so sick and desperately trying to help Samson who was still under the weather, but no longer super sick. I didn’t have the heart to tell Richard at that point how bad my contractions were feeling. I heated up some soup leftovers and tried to slurp down some water… and that’s when it all started for me. Fast forward to a few hours later and I’m throwing up in the shower while Richard calls the nurse line. Fast forward another hour and we’re driving back roads to the hospital since Richard isn’t fit to drive on I-35, then throwing his flashers on in the middle of the Congress St Bridge so he can unleash a tsunami of vomit. We get to the hospital and we’re both throwing up and Samson is being generally confused but pleasant and I’m wondering why the labor and delivery area is such a long walk from the front door. I get into triage around 10pm, they take awhile before they can get me any medicine but eventually give me a bunch of medicine for my flu-like symptoms (though I tested negative for the actual flu) and several bags of IV rehydration. The hope is that once I’m rehydrated labor will stop, but my contractions are already close and powerful and baby boy is pressing down hard with his head. They can’t give me an epidural because the idea is for me NOT to have a baby that night. Friends come by to scoop up Samson, which is amazing because Richard can hardly stay upright he is so ill. Around midnight they give me some Fentanyl that takes the edge off for about fifteen minutes before I feel the full power of the contractions again, now happening every 1-4 minutes. Richard is alternating between being as helpful as possible, crumpling into a puddle on the floor and running to the bathroom. Around 1am they make the call: I’m going to have this baby. The next hour and a half is spent watching my nurse stressfully try to get everything ready and try to get me an epidural. Around 2 they are finally getting an epidural in, or trying, as my tech, who Richard and I refer to as Mr. Magoo, talks at a snail’s pace and all the medical professionals are chatting amongst themselves about other patients… no one notices my water breaking, or me saying out loud that my water is breaking. They forget to turn on the medicine that feeds into the epidural until I’m already 9.5 cm and I am telling them, this baby is coming out, like I can physically feel him coming out. The nurse tells me not to push because they aren’t ready yet. Lots of scrambling and Richard insisting they bring the doctor in. Once the doctor is there it’s two contractions (7 pushes total) and baby boy is out with no tearing. They plop him right on my chest and perfect baby boy starts nursing pretty much immediately. I feel better pretty much immediately, too. Welcome to the world baby Gaius Alexander! Born 2:39 am on Sunday 3/3/19, 7lbs 13oz and 20” tall. He is the essence of chill.
We were able to leave the hospital 36 hrs later, and such a blessing to return home. Although what followed a perfect day at home was a jaundice scare, where we needed to take baby Guy to the lab every day to get his levels tested, afraid we would need to be readmitted to the hospital. All while I’m still recovering from giving birth (although I’ll admit I’ve had a relatively easy recovery so far) and the boys are recovering from the stomach bug. Luckily, Samson, even recovering from sickness and facing some strange changes, has been so sweet and such a doting big brother. When Guy cries he runs with a blanket to help him stay cozy, or whatever else he thinks will help, including the gentlest little pats. He loves grabbing his hands and dancing with him, again, very gently.
All in all we are doing great! Stay tuned for some great pictures we had taken while we were in the hospital 🙂
Gift Cards for the Holidays
Give the gift of great hair! Now offering virtual gift cards for hair services with me. Great for all the people in your life that have hair and like getting it pampered.
Photo cred: Tyler Sinclair, Model: Kayla Blackey
Now Taking Appointments at Luminosity Hair Studio in Mueller
Hello friends and clients (and those who may become one of those in the future),
I am thrilled to announce that I am now taking appointments at Luminosity Hair Studio in the centrally located Mueller neighborhood of Austin. I look forward to welcoming you into this beautiful space, abundant in light and cute details.
We carry R+Co and Kevin Murphy products, with a focus on friendly ingredients and low maintenance styling. This is a space where we try to make every client feel beautiful as they are, focusing on hairstyles that enhance and highlight qualities, rather than covering up alleged flaws. I hope that this will be a space where all of my clients feel comfortable and at ease.
Parking is free on the streets surrounding the salon. Feel free to call/text with any questions and concerns (541)954-2017 or email me rachellynn54@gmail.com.
Much love to all!
Rachel
Rachel Lynn Carr 