More Than Hair: Finding Yourself in the Reflection

Hairitage Magazine, 1990s — carrying forward the legacy of Deb’s family and The Looking Glass Salon, inspiring what Maralea Sun is today.

I’ve always believed that hair is never just hair. Growing up in a home with five sisters in the 70s and 80s, I saw firsthand how much meaning those strands carried. From the way they styled their hair before school dances, to the rituals of wash day, to the laughter (and sometimes tears) in front of the bathroom mirror — hair was woven into the fabric of identity.

I can still remember Saturday nights in our house as we got ready for Sunday church services. My sisters had long, beautiful hair, but washing and combing it out was often a battle. Without good products, the tangles turned into tears, and sometimes even those crazy “electric combs” made an appearance, promising to make it easier. They didn’t. But those moments — the struggles, the routines, the shared laughter — became part of our family rhythm.

And I remember my mother carefully “setting” my grandmother’s hair on Friday or Saturday so she would look just right for Sunday. To me, that ritual wasn’t just about style; it was about care, connection, and dignity. Looking back, I realize those moments helped shape my understanding of the importance of reflection.

But the true roots of what we now call Hairitage come from Deb’s side of the family. Her grandmother owned the Looking Glass Salon, where it was her dream to help women look and feel their best. That legacy — that reflection in the mirror — is where our inspiration really began. Hairitage came from them. From her family’s care, tradition, and love of helping women shine.

Of course, my own journey wasn’t without experimentation. Over the years, I tried it all: a perm, a buzz cut, even a mullet and a ponytail. I still remember the first time I cut my hair above my ears — what a surprise to see how big they looked. They weren’t that big, of course; it was just an adjustment. That’s the thing about hair — whether we wear it long, short, or somewhere in between, we’re constantly finding our identity in the reflection.

And then there’s Deb herself. When we met, she had beautiful, long blond hair. I loved watching it swing when she danced. Over the years, her styles changed — sometimes long, sometimes short, sometimes in between. But her inner beauty, her spirit, and her grace never changed. That’s the reflection we want to hold on to: the kind that goes deeper than style, deeper than hair.

Our hair moves through seasons just like we do. In times of celebration, we style it with joy. In times of struggle, it may feel like all we can do is pull it back and carry on. And in seasons of new beginnings, sometimes a cut or color feels like the truest reflection of change within.

I think of a close friend of mine who once wore her hair long and beautiful. During cancer treatment, she lost it all. What struck me most was how she carried that season with such grace. She didn’t lose herself when she lost her hair. Her identity, her beauty, her spirit — all of that remained untouched. She embraced the change and reminded me of a truth we all need to remember: hair is part of us, but it does not define us.

That’s why haircare should never be about covering up, but about lifting up. About using what’s natural, gentle, and restorative — not to hide flaws, but to bring out what’s already there.

At Maralea Sun, we believe our products are simply tools — the real beauty is in the person looking back at you.

So the next time you pause at the mirror, I invite you to look beyond the hair and see yourself the way God sees you. See the strength, the resilience, the immeasurable value placed within you. That is the true legacy — a reflection of love and worth that has been passed down through generations, and one that no style or season can ever take away.