Our Town

If ever there was a time when a hair cut was appreciated; it would be now!! I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of Belzoni’s most popular stylists; Tami Hawkins. It’s not just her skills on hair they make her such a beloved beautician, but her endearing spirit and genuine kindness that will melt away any walls built up and having you pour your heart out as she clips away.

While most eighth graders were scrapbooking, chasing boys and looking forward to high school, Tami was cutting hair for anyone brave enough to let her. She never had any other dream in life; and pursued it immediately after high school, getting her license in 1979. For over 40 years, she has brought out the best in each client, both aesthetically and personally.

There is never just a hair cut or blow out at Tami’s. When you sit in that chair, traffic passing by on Jackson Street, it all begins. As she clips and combs, you are her entire world for those few minutes. Tami is there to talk, to listen; and being a preacher’s daughter, she’s there to even pray with you if you want.

Being so close to her clients, Tami has shared some of the most precious and memorable moments with the citizens of Belzoni throughout the years. There have been weddings, funerals, and shaving heads in the mist of a cancer battle. Tears of happiness , of despair and of faith have been shed in the little shop on Jackson Street.

Over the past 40 years, Tami has witnessed every trend you can imagine. When I asked her the craziest trend she remembers there was no hesitation, “Giving men perms in the 80s.” Of course, that trend faded out; just as most of today’s trends will. That’s the beauty industry…. ever changing. Perms may have left its mark; but it’s nothing compared to Covid-19.

In over 40 years, the only time Tami has taken off more than a few days was when she had twins. The mandatory shut down due to Covid brought the beauty industry to its knees. Though they received unemployment benefits, many stylists are in the fight for their livelihood. It will take the strength and faith that long-time stylists like Tami possesses to survive this quarantine and thrive.

So what sound advice does Tami have for those anxious students about to embark on their new career in the beauty industry? “Show up. Pay your dues; and be available. People are fickly but trust in God.” It’s may seem simple, but it’s this simple mantra that has made Tami’s on Jackson street the landmark it is today.