Susan Perdue has never heard the world around her, but that hasn’t stopped the 50-year-old from thriving in her dream career as a hairstylist. Despite being born deaf, Perdue is now the manager of one of the fastest-growing salons in the nation.
Greg Thompson, a Great Clips franchise owner, praised Perdue’s exceptional work ethic and ability to connect with both customers and staff at his Forsyth County salon.
“Susan is running our fastest-growing store, and she’s killing it,” said Thompson, who owns 72 Great Clips locations. He considers Perdue among his top five managers.
Her accomplishments haven’t gone unnoticed. Perdue’s salon recently received the prestigious Great Clips Main Sail award, a distinction reserved for the top 10% of the company’s 4,500 stores across the U.S. The award is based on metrics like customer retention and wait times.
For Perdue, the journey to success has been one of perseverance. Her passion for cosmetology was met with discouragement early on when her high school counselor told her that being deaf would prevent her from succeeding in the industry.
“I’m grateful for the company giving me the opportunity because nobody else did,” Perdue said. “I will stay here until I retire or until they get sick of me.”
Overcoming the Odds
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Perdue is the youngest of three sisters, two of whom were born deaf. From an early age, she loved styling hair, starting with her Barbie dolls and later helping her sisters prepare for dances and proms.
However, her dreams were nearly crushed when her school counselor told her she couldn’t pursue a career in cosmetology because of her deafness. The counselor suggested that customers would want to talk to their hairstylist, a conversation Perdue wouldn’t be able to participate in.
“I thought my world was crushed because that’s the only thing I ever wanted to do,” she said.
Instead of following her passion right away, Perdue took a job at a bank, a career that left her unfulfilled. She has been married to Scott Perdue, who is also deaf, for nearly 30 years. The couple lives in Dawson County and has two children in their early twenties.
In 2006, the Perdues moved to Georgia, where Scott noticed his wife’s dissatisfaction with her job and asked, “What do you really want to do?”
“I told him I always wanted to be a hairstylist,” Perdue recalled. Scott took the initiative to gather information about the cosmetology program at Lanier Technical College and encouraged her to enroll.
A Late Start, but Unwavering Commitment
Perdue faced numerous challenges on her path to becoming a hairstylist. She had to secure an interpreter for her in-class instruction and sit away from other students to avoid distractions caused by sign language.
After completing her education in December 2012, Perdue waited two months to take her state board licensing exam. She took the test alone, aided by a speech interpreter and two state proctors to ensure a fair evaluation.
Her first jobs in private salons were difficult. Perdue struggled to prove herself and faced isolation, often working alone. She even devised a system to manage phone calls, noting the numbers from missed calls and texting customers back.
“It was kind of lonely. I was working by myself most of the time,” she said. “I began to think maybe my high school counselor was right. Maybe hairstyling is not for me.”
At one point, Perdue considered switching careers and began pursuing another degree before losing her job at the salon. But fate intervened when a Great Clips manager offered her a position at one of Thompson’s stores. From that point on, Perdue excelled, quickly proving her capabilities and earning the role of manager.
Innovating to Succeed
At the Great Clips location on Matt Highway, Perdue has developed a unique system to communicate with clients. She immediately informs customers that she is deaf and asks them to sign in on an iPad, where they can also specify their desired hairstyle.
While styling, she communicates by reading lips in the mirror, a skill her mother taught her in childhood. She’s not shy about asking clients to repeat themselves when necessary.
“This company has gone above and beyond,” Perdue said. “I don’t want people to feel sorry for me, but to know I can do this. I’m so used to not having accommodations that right now, I’m on cloud nine.”
Thompson is quick to downplay any special efforts to accommodate her, emphasizing that Perdue is not defined by her disability.
“Susan is not disabled. She is not a burden,” he said. “She’s a top-performing manager who is an inspiration for others. There are a lot of deaf people out there, but very, very few in this industry. I don’t know any other deaf person who is a salon manager. She did it with zero hearing her whole life.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
Several years ago, Susan and her husband Scott were invited to speak to a group of deaf high school graduates. The students were curious about career paths and seeking advice for their futures.
Her message to them was simple, yet powerful: “Don’t let anyone tell you no,” she told the group. “If it’s your passion and your desire, do it.”
