Hairworks Studio celebrates 30th anniversary

Houlton Pioneer Times photo/Gloria Austin
SIGN UP — To celebrate Hairworks Studio’s 30th anniversary a drawing will be held to give away 30 gifts. Some gifts are valued at $10, but 10 of those gifts hold a retail of $100. Diane Lincoln displays some of those gifts.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Hairworks Studio/Miss Whimsy’s gift shop is offering customers autumn savings during its 30-year anniversary celebration this month.
    Owner Wanita Rush has worked at the business as a stylist for 20 years before she and her husband, Steve, bought the establishment in 2008 from Rod and Candy Herring. The Herrings opened Hairworks Studio on Court Street in November 1981.
    To celebrate their 30th anniversary, Hairworks will be giving away 30 gifts. Some gifts are valued at $10, but 10 of those gifts hold a retail of $100. Hairworks Studio will also be participating in the Shiretown’s Open House on Sunday, Nov. 20. Products in the gift shop will be discounted 20 percent from noon-4 p.m.
    On Black Friday (Nov. 25) Hairworks Studio will be open from 7-9 a.m. with a 30 percent discount on products and gifts.
    “It’s a great time to get an extra savings,” said Rush.
    Throughout the Christmas season, Hairworks Studio will be offering package gift sets to go with their product lines and though stocked in October, Breast Cancer Awareness items are available all year long.
    “We have also added free gift wrapping,” said Rush.
    In Miss Whimsey’s gift shop area, Rush has taken out a lot of the household decorating items and replaced them with personal items.
    “We are preparing for the holiday season, as we have handbags, scarves, jewelry, along with baking dishes, bowls and cookbooks. We also stock Andrew Wyeth and Robert Duncan prints. I am trying to offer a little bit of sewing supplies, fabric and quilting books, too.”
    Rush is awaiting the new arrival of Christmas fabric.
    “We have found different suppliers, so we offer something unique,” Rush said. “We have many suppliers, not just one,” said Rush. “We get a better variety that way,” added Lincoln.
    “We stock the gift shop by thinking what can people use or what do people want?,” Rush noted.
    Hairworks Studio has a variety of products ranging from the popular standbys of Paul Mitchell, Matrix and Biolage, with two new lines added from Redkin and Kenra.
Houlton Pioneer Times photo/Gloria Austin
NEW ITEMS — Kathy Bartley showcases the new handbags, scarves and other items added to Miss Whimsy’s Gift Shop at Hairworks Studio. The hair salon/gift shop is celebrating its 30th anniversary during the month of November.
    “The new products have done well,” said Diane Lincoln, who has handled counter duties for almost 20 years.
    Hairworks Studio has also added a new color line and offers OPI nail polish, which is a “shattered nail effect” polish.
    In the salon, customers get the expertise of stylists, who have been at Hairworks Studio for more than 10 years, as well.
    “We have more new people coming in each day,” said Bartley.
    Lincoln injected, “The stylists work different days Monday through Saturday making it more flexible for customers.”
    But, if a customer wants a specific stylists he or she may call and request an appointment with that person. Hairworks Studio stylists do not mind walk-ins either.
    “We can take walk-ins most of the time,” Rush said. “That’s what people like about this salon, as far as walk-ins go,” Bartley explained. “We do have a lot of stylists and we can take them within five or 10 minutes. We don’t say you have to come back tomorrow. We can get anyone in who wants a haircut.”
    Through the years, Rush has seen hair trends come and go, as new styles take their place.
    “We still do perms, but it’s mostly color now,” she said. “We do a lot of highlighting and low lighting. We have done some extensions, usually clip-in ones. People may not want to wear them all the time, so we make them versatile.”
    Another trendy fashion, along with coloring, is nail care.
    “We have a new system called shellac if people want to keep their nails from chipping and really healthy,” said Rush. “We have a two-week nail polish which is applied in the studio. It is pretty big around the whole United States.”
    Rush keeps the business up-to-date as she attends the hair shows in New Hampshire to see what is new and upcoming. She also uses a variety of sales people, who come to the studio to show the stylists what is new and what they think the trend is going to be for the year.
    “We then decide whether [it fits] our area,” she added.
    Stylists Andrea Faulkner and Kathy Bartley noted fashion is always changing.
    “We are adjusting all the time,” said Faulkner. “You never know from one year to the next if it’s going to be long hair, short hair, perm or straight. It changes time after time,” added Bartley.
Houlton Pioneer Times photo/Gloria Austin
BUSY — Andrea Faulkner works busily at drying a client’s hair before moving her into a private booth at Hairworks Studio.
    Hairworks Studio stylists also offer free consultation if someone isn’t quite sure how they want their hair cut or colored. They also have many styling books on hand for women, men and children.
    “A lot of times when you color your own hair at home, it ends up being more expensive for us to fix it,” said Rush. “It’s not an easy fix. We will fix it. But, if you came and got your hair done professionally, you wouldn’t pay as much if something goes wrong.”
    Hairworks Studio puts a guarantee on their work.
    “If you don’t like it,” said Rush, “We will fix it.”
    Hairworks Studio hair specialties include weddings and proms to manicures and pedicures to facials and waxing. Rush is also sells Mary Kay makeup.
    “We also do ear piercing,” Lincoln said. “When you buy a pair of earrings here, ear piercing is free.”
    One of the perks when coming to Hairworks Studio is its private environment.
    “When people come in, it is a nice quiet atmosphere to have their hair done” Rush explained.
    “It is not an open concept. We all have our own booths for haircuts and the same goes for the color areas.”
    The staff at Hairworks Studio is like family and their customers extended members.
    “It takes all of us,” said Rush. “We are very supportive of each other. It doesn’t matter how many years you have been here, we can always go to each other for advice.”
    “There is a lot of camaraderie,” said Lincoln. “We don’t work for her, we work with her.. We all work together.”
    Bartley agreed. “It’s a wonderful experience working for her,” she added.
    Looking to try something new, stop in to Hairworks Studio Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    The stylists literally have clients from a year old to 90. Clients can enjoy fresh coffee in the tranquil environment while being attended to. To set up an appointment, call Hairworks Studio at 532-4247.