Where beauty is Head to Toe

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
ROYAL TREATMENT — Julie Hogan, left, touches up Mildred Madigan’s freshly coiffed hair as Everett Doughty gives a soothing hand massage.
By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HODGDON — About a year ago, Everett Doughty was looking for a new career like so many others affected by the recession with its layoffs and uncertainties. With encouragement and training, he found a fresh start in the beauty industry and landed successfully on his feet to start a business in February — Head to Toe.
    Doughty has been sharing space with Julie Hogan at Julie’s Beauty World in Hodgdon winning raves from a growing list of loyal clients.
    “We saw his ad in the paper and he was wonderful. We liked him so well, we’re back again,” said Joan Jones. She and her friend, Bob Butler, are visiting Houlton while spending the summer in New Hampshire. They live in  Zephyr  Hills, Fla. and stopped in for pedicures, haircuts and styling.
    Cuts, color, perms, highlights, waxing, manicures and pedicures are now Doughty’s stock and trade. “That’s why it’s called Head to Toe. I do it all,” said Doughty with a smile. He graduated from Empire Beauty School in Bangor after experiencing layoffs at the sawmill where he had been working. Doughty and Hogan are both licensed cosmetologists.
    Houlton resident Mildred Madigan also has high praise for Hogan and Doughty. Madigan said she has been styled every week for about 22 years by Hogan and is “very satisfied” because the longtime professional can coif and style her long hair the way she likes it. Hogan has been a hairdresser for 41 years.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
HOT FOR SUMMER — Everett Doughty started his own business in Hodgdon — Head to Toe. Here the area’s popular new cosmetologist, shows some of the bright polishes his clients like.
    After Doughty arrived on the scene, Madigan said she “had a pedicure from Everett and it was fantastic.” She said she was so pleased she even told her daughter-in-law that Doughty was doing a great job giving pedicures and she especially liked the leg massage. Since her daughter-in-law had a pedicure and manicure, Madigan declared “every time she comes to Houlton she calls on Everett. She thought Everett gave her the best pedicure she ever had.”
    “He is a great asset for the business. He has brought in a lot of clients as far as pedicures and manicures,” said Hogan who has been at her current location, 775 Calais Rd., for about 14 years. The two beauty specialists knew each other originally from the 7th Day Adventist Church in Oakfield that they attended.
    “It’s working out well. He’s quite dedicated. He’s here by at least 7:00 in the morning to get things ready for clients and he’s open between 7:30-8 a.m.,” said Hogan. “What’s most popular for him seems to be the pedicures and manicures. And, for me, its the regular shampoo, sets and color.”
    Hogan is a licensed aesthetician and electrologist — one of a scant few in the area who performs electrolysis. By passing the state board exams Hogan is qualified to do in-depth acid peels, micro-dermabrasion, facials and other cosmetic services. Her hour-long facials include massage of the scalp, neck, décolleté and arms.
    Hogan said she has watched Doughty’s progression from “a small foot fixer” to his large professional pedicure spa chair that gives an adjustable electronic back massage. The basin of the spa chair has a whirlpool with lights that change colors. Doughty said that is especially good to relax evening clients and set the mood for an upscale experience.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
SHAMPOO AND CUT — Joan Jones, visiting from Florida and New Hampshire, discovered Head to Toe and liked it so much she and her friend are now loyal customers when in the area.
    “Sitting behind a desk crunching numbers didn’t appeal to me,” said Doughty who explained that he took about a year to decide on a career change before signing up for training in cosmetology. “It’s working out very well. My clients like to have a man doing their hair and giving them manicures and pedicures.”
    He described how he takes an overall look at the person’s feet to assesses the situation before soaking them and proceeding with the pedicure while using natural products that include a facial for the legs. The crowning touch is a choice of polishes — traditional colors, fashion colors or trendy new bright neons called Poolside by China Glaze.
    At $20 for a pedicure, Madigan called it: “A bargain. I had that done and it was wonderful. My feet felt like I was walking on air.” She is considering one of the hip, new neon colors — neon pink, actually — for her next visit.
    Doughty said his wife and daughter tried yellow in the Poolside line. Other hot colors for this season are green, blue and orange.
    For more information contact Doughty at: 538-1472 and Hogan at 532-6267.