At 79, a man walked into beauty school to learn curling and mascara. His wife was losing her vision
When his wife's eyesight began to deteriorate, getting ready in the morning became increasingly dangerous so he took matters into his own hands
What does it mean to spend 50 years loving the same person? When you are young, love can feel big and dramatic, with grand gestures, long handwritten letters, adventures together, and promises of a bright future together. But after decades together, love often becomes something quieter, like noticing the little things and learning how to help the person you love. That's exactly what this 79-year-old husband in Alberta, Canada, did for his beloved wife, as shared by Delmar College of Hair & Esthetics Red Deer Campus (@hairdesignbybritney) in an April 21, 2021, Instagram post.
He will protect her no matter what
The couple had been married for 50 years, and the wife had always taken great pride in her appearance. But as her eyesight began to deteriorate, something as simple as getting ready in the morning became increasingly difficult and dangerous for her. As per PEOPLE, she had started accidentally burning herself with a hot curling iron while trying to style her hair. Her husband couldn't stand watching her struggle. He said, "It's important to her," and rather than asking her to give up a routine that made her feel like herself, this gentleman, who chooses to remain anonymous, decided to take matters into his own hands and learn how to help her.
Lessons in love and mascara
The man walked into Delmar College of Hair and Esthetics in Alberta and approached the director, Carrie Hannah, asking if there were any lessons he could join to learn how to safely style his wife's hair. Touched by his request, the academy set him up with an immediate, hands-on tutorial session. With a student instructor and a mannequin head, the 79-year-old spent an hour learning how to use a curling iron to style his wife's hair and protect her from burning her skin the next time. But that wasn't all.
"He also asked for tips on applying mascara because that task was hard for her also, so we gave him a makeup lesson too!" Hannah said. Throughout the hour, the salon staff watched through tears as the man continuously reached for his wallet to proudly showcase old photos of his wife, boasting to the room about how beautiful she has always been and how she used to type over 100 words per minute at her old desk job.
In sickness and in health
Having a partner who supports you through sickness is quite impactful. A 2007 study published by The Journals of Gerontology of 418 older couples reveals that a spouse’s vision loss negatively impacts a partner's depression, health, and marital quality. Fortunately, more husbands are stepping up to help. A study in the Journal of Marriage and Family found that the number of male spousal caregivers rose from 6% to 11% between 2002 and 2018.
This growth is mostly seen in low-intensity care and daily support, the exact type of hands-on devotion shown by a husband learning to style his wife's hair. The couple visited the salon again to thank the people who helped them. "They both also are impressed with his new professional skills, and her hair is looking great!" Hannah said.
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