“We love Moorhead, which is why my business is still in Moorhead,” explains Violet Deilke. As the owner and operator of the Centre for Hair & Wellness, Deilke has deep roots in the community and has been a Moorhead resident for over thirty years. She shared that “we live here because we love it.” As further proof, she and her husband Karl have raised four children and eight grandchildren; and she noted that Moorhead has provided her family with a good life and many opportunities.
Deilke grew up in Littlefork, MN, which is located next to International Falls. She quickly confirmed that it is indeed the true icebox of the nation with its blistery cold winters. She recalls her younger years with happiness when she spent her time on the farm helping with chores, and fondly remembers riding and racing horses. Deilke shared that caring for the horses was her real love growing up and sharing your life with a horse is a rewarding experience because your horse depends on your love, care, and commitment. Perhaps those early years providing care and commitment are the foundation for Deilke’s passion to help others through her business as well as her community, most recently with her involvement with the Clay County Jail Ministry. Additionally, a main part of her business involves supporting her clients through their cancer journeys.
As with many of us, her path from there to here included a few learning experiences. After high school, Deilke attended Moorhead Tech (Minnesota State Community & Technical College – Moorhead) for Computer Programming. After completion of the program, she worked in that field for about six months. Deilke quickly realized that she was more of a people person and that computer programming just wasn’t a good fit for her.
Her path to cosmetology school and becoming a trained hair designer included working in the family business for a number of years. Deilke and her husband Karl owned and operated the Double D Restaurant on I94, which provided her with many of the customer care skills that would pay dividends when in 1983 she opened the full service salon 621 Center for Hair. When the business moved to its present location to the north side of the Moorhead Center Mall, the name was changed to the Centre for Hair and Wellness, which better reflected Deilke’s desire to help others.
In the early1990s, Deilke had a client who was going through eye cancer treatment. Deilke’s attempt to supply an appropriate wig was unsuccessful. However, that experience was the spark that led her to a Los Angeles school to learn more about ways to help cancer patients. From that experience, Deilke’s area of specialty has been helping people with hair loss. She explains that there are many different reasons for hair loss such as from chemotherapy, radiation, alopecia, male and female pattern baldness, and just plain thinning hair.
Because the emotional aspects of living with hair loss can be challenging, no one given the choice wants to lose their hair. Throughout the course of history, attitudes towards baldness have been overwhelmingly negative. Hair loss is a stressful and devastating experience for both sexes, but substantially more distressing for women. A 1992 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology compared the psychological impact of hair loss on men and women and found that women had a more negative body image and were less able to adapt to the loss. This enforces the importance of Deilke’s work to ensure women have options as they travel through their health journeys, particularly for those fighting cancer.
Much deserved, Deilke’s dedication to helping cancer patients was honored by the American Cancer Society. The Society flew Deilke and her husband to Los Angeles to honor her with the 2010 “Look Good – Feel Better” national award for helping women with cancer. “The most rewarding part of my business is being able to help men and women at such a devastating time in their lives, being able to make them look like themselves ‘naturally’.”
Violet Deilke
Hair Loss Specialist
420 Center Ave, Suite 14
Moorhead, MN
218 236-6000