A cut above the rest

It is not often in life that a person can live their dream. But don’t tell that to Susie Selzer.

Selzer, who owns the Le Petit Maison beauty salon, has been living her dream for almost a half century. Forty-five years ago today, on Dec. 15, 1972, Selzer took over as the owner and proprietor of the beauty shop at 1309 St. Lawrence in Gonzales. She has owned the shop ever since, and she says she wouldn’t want to do anything else upon reflection.

“I have always enjoyed doing people’s hair,” Selzer said. “Ever since I was a little girl, I would do my Momma’s hair and all of her friends too. I really liked doing that and people liked what I was doing.

“I would do and redo my own hair sometimes three times a day, and my Daddy started to wonder if there was something wrong with me,” she laughed.

After graduating from high school, she attended beauty school in Victoria.
“I went to drive back and forth to school every day for six months and then Mrs. Floyd built this shop for me and I ran it. After a year, I took over, and this is what I have been doing ever since.”

It has been a labor of love for Selzer, as she fondly recalls cutting three generations of different family’s hair at her salon.

“I love coming to work and spending time with my customers,” Selzer said. “I really enjoy talking to them and being friends. It’s not really work when you do what you enjoy.
“I can’t believe how fast the 45 years have gone—it doesn’t seem like that much time has gone by. But I wouldn’t trade any of it.”
Brittany Law, who has worked with Susie for almost five years now, says “Susie tells it like it is, and it is her way or the highway. But it’s the right way, and everyone who comes in here knows that and respects that.”

As an example, Law tells the story of a time when a man walked into the salon and wanted to talk to Selzer.

“Susie was doing someone’s hair and she told him he would just have to wait until she was done,” Law said with a chuckle. “He told her he was the state inspector, but he had to wait. We still laugh about that to this day.”

“I like the independence and doing what I do,” Selzer said. “Sometimes though I wish I had someone else paying for my insurance and retirement though!”

Selzer’s shop is open Tuesday through Friday, but she has trimmed her schedule down to three days a week. “I’m not ready to retire yet, but I am slowing down a little.”

Law jumped in after Susie’s comment to add “Don’t call her between 11 and 12 in the morning, because she won’t answer the phone,” Law teased. “She is the world’s biggest ‘The Young and the Restless’ fan, and she watches that show every day.”

Selzer laughed at the story, then said “I have loved what I do for the last 45 years. I can’t believe it has been that long but I just want to thank everyone who has come in her and who has worked with me; it has been a true blessing. I am thankful that I am still capable and healthy enough to do this after all these years.”

Today, the Le Petite Maison will be offering special treats and door prizes for its friends and customer, and the public is invited to stop by and say hello.