By Andrea Yeager //
This Coast nurse spends her days loving and caring for her family and patients, giving of herself over and over.
Friends knew it was time for Jennifer Nix to be on the receiving end of some TLC. The wife, mother of three and pain-management nurse was nominated for a day of pampering at Tanya Tancredi Salon.
“I was so surprised and really didn’t understand why I would be chosen,” Nix says. “There are so many people more deserving than me.”
Her co-workers, friends and family know why. For four years, she and her husband, Jimmy, a Gulfport policeman, have prayed and cared for their 8-year-old son, who has a rare brain cancer, so rare that it is only the fifth such case that St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis has ever treated.
“Dalton has beaten the prognosis, and on our last visit, the tumor has shrunk some,” says Nix, who with her son spends two days a month in Baton Rouge for treatment and every eight weeks in Memphis. “God works in mysterious ways. Dalton is such a blessing. No one would ever know he is sick. He is so carefree.”
All three of Nix’s children are her heart: biological daughter Ashleigh, 16; and adopted siblings, Dalton and Keegan, 7.
“We couldn’t have any more children and wanted more, so we adopted our sons when they were 16 months and 3 months. All I ever wanted to be was a mom and a nurse, so I am blessed,” she says. “I am just a normal mom who is doing what God wants me to do, being a mom and a nurse. I don’t think I’m special.”
Nix credits friends, family and extended families for the strong support she receives: Church family at Campground Baptist, police family, work family and Lyman Youth Association football family. “We are blessed with a strong circle of friends,” she says.
But on this day, Nix is being blessed with a day of beauty, including new haircut, hair coloring, makeup and a new outfit.
Nix hasn’t had her hair colored in four years because there just wasn’t time and others needed attention more.
“My daughter and I were just talking about me cutting and coloring my hair,” she says. “And now this; I am so surprised.”
Because of Nix’s hectic schedule, hair cutter Alex Jones knew she needed a cut that had good shape and was easy to style. As a nurse, Nix usually pulls her below-shoulder-length hair into a ponytail.
Since Nix’s hair is up most of the time, colorist Angela Taylor knew the highlights and lowlights had to be placed just so to give a brighter overall effect.
Even though some 4 inches were cut, Nix’s hair was still below shoulder length. It was layered to allow for more movement. Her face was framed with a bit more layering.
“I wanted to keep it easy for her, but add volume,” Jones says. Taylor’s task was to lighten the hair and to blend in the gray. “Jennifer has bright blue eyes, and I want the color to brighten and bring out her eyes,” Taylor says. “I am lifting the bottom with color, so it is not a solid color on the bottom and more hair will be highlighted. This will give her a more natural look when she pulls her hair up.”
While her hair was sectioned, painted with color and wrapped in aluminum foil, Nix said she took the day off for this treat.
“One of my co-workers helped me get everything done on Friday, so I could take off.”
Next, freelance makeup artist Mallory Fitzgerald chose natural as the theme for this makeover. Fitzgerald wanted to keep the makeup clean and add touches of color. From foundation to individual false lashes, Fitzgerald focuses on making those baby blues stand out, using a warm brown on the eyes and a soft pink on her lips.
A pretty glam look was what the makeup artist was going for, and that’s what she delivered. “I am so excited,” Nix said. “I have never had anyone do my makeup.
Could you write down what makeup you used on me?”
Make-up finished, it was time for her to be dressed up. Nix received an Ann Taylor white eyelet slip dress from Back on the Rack. The dress was paired with navy and cork wedge sandals. Vintage Vault, a Gulfport
shop featuring local artists, provided just the right accessories: A long gold necklace with a crystal teardrop, gold crystal earrings and brown and clear crystal bracelet.
“I am most excited about my new look. It is something different,” Nix says. “It has been so long since I have done anything like this.”
The Gulf Coast Woman Makeover Team is a group of fashion and beauty stylists who offer deserving women a free makeover from head to toe. Tanya Tancredi, owner of Tanya Tancredi Salon, is the creator of the team.
THE MAKEOVER TEAM INCLUDED:
• Alex Jones, hair cutter
• Angela Taylor, colorist
• Mallory Fitzgerald, makeup artist
• Back on the Rack, outfit
• Kevin Mitchell of Vintage Vault, jewelry