[image]
[title]Street cred Anne Richardson had her mind set on attending beauty school, so she sharpened her scissor skills at a vocational school in Ohio before heading to college. She subsequently studied elementary education and tried out teaching for a few years (all the while cutting hair on the side), but she quickly returned to her original passion. “I just can’t stop doing hair,” she says. After spending nine years at Milio’s Tattoo and Hair Salon, Richardson migrated with nine other Milio’s employees to open Black Hearts Hair House (3535 N Lincoln Ave, 773-525-4344) in Lakeview a year and a half ago. Right now, she’s digging cuts with lots of layers and natural texture, connected cuts and vintage updos. As a colorist (she also does waxing at the salon), Richardson likes to use color—be it natural or bright flashes from extensions—to accentuate her cuts.
Why we love her “When I went in [to Anne], it was the first real haircut at a salon I’d ever had,” TOC photographer Andrew Nawrocki says. “Before that I got my hair cut by whomever.” That was ten years ago (when Richardson worked at Milio’s); since then, Nawrocki has been a one-stylist man. Talk about a lucky walk-in experience. After maturing past his “giant pompadour Mohawk” stage, Nawrocki let Richardson take the reins and steer him toward relatively conservative styles that flatter his face shape. “I’m not good at explaining what I want, but she’s really good at basically reading my mind.” While Nawrocki has opted to tame his mane, he especially recommends Richardson for crazier styles. “She sees [hairstyles] that a lot of traditional stylists see once in their lifetime.” Cuts by Richardson at Black Hearts Hair House cost $50–$60; color starts at $70.