An Unexpected Makeover for a Long-Haired Husband

Some people carefully plot out their appearance. They wash their face, fix their hair, and pick their clothes in a very conscious way. Other people, however, prefer to just roll out of bed, throw on a shirt, and call it a day. 

Neither husband nor wife had any idea of what they were about to get into. They felt the butterflies that seem to get caught in people’s stomachs whenever they get nervous. It was bound to be a big day.

Jeffrey Schultz was a man who kept himself unkempt. That’s what he preferred. He wasn’t fussed about upkeep, so he just let his hair and beard grow as long and gray as they wanted. It was stylish and easy to maintain.

Jeffrey met Lori when they were both a few years out of high school. He was busy working at his father’s business, while Lori was studying away at school. They immediately hit it off, and after two short years of dating, they decided to tie the knot and get hitched. 

As you can imagine, staying married for 30 years means something worked well. For them, it was their mutual love. Jeffrey was the love of Lori’s life, and Lori felt exactly the same. That love was deep, overlooking small things like appearances.

A big part of that look of sadness was the mismatch between their styles. Lori spent many hours each day trying to look the best she could for Jeffrey – fixing her hair, applying makeup, picking out the right clothes, and much more.

So, Jeffrey felt in his bones (and hair) that he needed to change. However, after twenty-some-odd years of grabbing the nearest T-shirt and letting your hair grow out as it wanted, this was a bit scary. He didn’t know if he was ready for anything drastic.

Jeffrey’s look fit his job as perfectly as a hand in a glove. He was a mechanic. Working all day alongside greasy machines, exhaust fumes, and a whole range of smelly, dusty, or dirty chemicals made a rugged appearance pretty much required. 

Although Jeffrey was clean-shaven in his early twenties, long years working as a mechanic surrounded by oils, grease, and fumes lead him to take on a more scruffy look. It was an entirely practical choice, one that plenty of other mechanics take as well.

If you saw Jeffrey on the street or walked into his mechanic’s shop, you’d probably assume that he was totally unconcerned with superficial things such as fashion and appearance. He was a practical man who didn’t waste time on that.

Jeffrey told Lori that the reason he dressed the way he did was that he was afraid of change. It was a touching confession that made Lori cry. She had no idea that Jeffrey had this bottled-up fear inside. 

That star was Rachael Ray, the chef, businesswoman, author, and host of the popular Rachael Ray Show. Lori wrote up an email describing her husband’s dilemma and then sent off the email to the producers of the show. 

The multi-award-winning Rachael Ray Show is best known for its cooking segments featuring celebrities, politicians, and media personalities. However, millions of viewers also tune in to see the amazing makeover transformations. Jeffrey was one of those viewers. 

The “southern fried makeover” show featured Stacey Collins and Brandon Helms. This couple had a very relaxed attitude toward fashion. Whatever was comfortable, they wore. Usually, that meant blue jeans, camouflage jackets, and plain color hoodies. 

Jeffrey nearly fell onto the floor because he was so close to the edge of his seat while watching the episode. Kyan Douglas, the styling guru of Queer Eye fame, set about considering what to do with Brandon Helms’ look. 

Although the wife’s encouragement was gentle – “I don’t love the beard, but I don’t hate it either” – it was clear she was being overly nice to the camera. In reality, she definitely wanted Brandon to shave his beard. Brandon sensed that and felt the same.

So, with Brandon’s consent and Stacey’s admiration, the couple put their looks (and hopes) in the hands of the show’s style gurus. After a quick commercial break, Rachael Ray came back for the big unveiling. The camo-clad couple walked out on stage. 

Not too long after that smile faded, Lori heard back from the Rachael Ray producers she sent the email to. They were interested in featuring Lori and Jeffrey on the show. So, they flew out to New York City to tell their story in front of a live studio audience.

Considering the fact that Jeffrey hadn’t changed his look for decades, this complete makeover was a big change – and big changes require big names. So, Rachael Ray brought in Kyan Douglas from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

There were so many things to be excited about. Alongside the upcoming transformation by two of America’s best hair stylists, Jeffrey also got to fly to New York City, meet Rachael Ray, and see what the show was like behind the scenes. It was a dream come true.

Soon after Jeffrey came on stage, he sat down for a little chat. Rachael and the stylists began asking him about his looks, his marriage, and what he hoped to change. Jeffrey’s answer was iconic. Thinking of Lori, he said that she married him “with nothing on my face, so I’m willing to go that far.” 

After tackling Jeffrey’s long hair and gray beard, the stylists turned their attention to his clothing. He came in with the same denim overalls he wore to work and nearly everywhere else. They decided to ditch the overalls for something more stylish.

During the entire process of having his hair styled and his clothes picked out, Jeffrey wasn’t allowed to see himself. Mirrors, phones, and other reflective surfaces were completely banned – and for good reason. His first inkling of how well the makeover went would come from his wife’s reaction. 

Seeing Lori’s reaction, Jeffrey knew that the style gurus did an amazing job. Then, he turned around and saw for himself. Talk about transformative! The gurus re-shaped his hair into the wavy look he had in his early 20s. 

Lori could hardly contain her excitement – “That’s not my husband,” she gasped, “He looks like a model!” Not just any model, either. She continued, “He looks like a brother of John Wayne!!!” After he heard Lori call him a “handsome devil,” Jeffrey blushed in embarrassed excitement. 

For many years, Jeffrey hid behind his long beard and even longer hair. His jaw hadn’t seen the light of day since the turn of the 21st century! Now, with the help of talented stylists and Rachael Ray, things changed for the better.