Waves, Cuts and Curls opens in Shiretown

12 years ago

Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
BU-CLR-waves,cuts,curls-dc-pt-04NEW SALON — “Waves, Cuts and Curls” is open at the corner of North and Mill streets in Houlton. Stephanie (Foster) Harris is the new owner. Harris is shown with her husband, David, and their 3-year-old daughter, Waverli.

By Gloria Austin

Staff Writer
    Though the Infinity Hair Salon has closed, the staff remained together in a new venture at the corner of North and Mill Streets.
    Eight-year hair stylist Stephanie (Foster) Harris and her husband, David, purchased the property just before Thanksgiving 2012.
    “We tagged along,” Sarah McLaughlin (12 years) said of herself and Heidi Miller (13 years), who were both stylists at Infinity.

    The threesome thought that Infinity would sell as a hair salon and they would continue at the same location under new ownership. But, that didn’t happen.
    Infinity is now Jenny’s — a combination of local craft and antique vendors under one roof — at the Union Square location.
    So, the trio needed a new place. Jen and Bruce Wallace had the semi-downtown building for sale so Harris and her husband bought it.
    “Owning my own business was something I have always wanted to do,” said Harris. “It was part of my plans at some point. This felt like the perfect time  to do it. David and I discussed it and thought about the cost of owning and we felt that it was a great step.”
    McLaughlin and Miller no longer wanted the overhead and headaches of running a business.
    “We always wanted to continue to do hair,” said McLaughlin.
    Harris added, “I feel it’s a challenge I am up for.”
    The new hair salon — “Waves, Cuts and Curls”—    gets its name from those who participated in a Facebook contest. Whoever came up with a name won a free color.
    “I took  a knockoff version of one of the girls’ answers,” she said.
    Three chairs  in a snug area makes for a quaint gathering.
    “Everyone who comes in says that is comfy and cozy,” said Harris. “It’s not big and open.”
    Working in a more snug area, Harris, McLaughlin and Heidi Miller continue their routines as usual — lacking the tanning bed and pedicure chair.
    What they gained from the change is a better visible spot for the business since it’s on the corner of North Street, which gets the flow of traffic in and out of town.
    The building has a storied history, but it was used for John Botting’s barber shop and Heidi Warman’s hair salon “Hair Unlimited.”
    “I worked for Heidi when she first opened,” said McLaughlin. “People think it is a bit unusual that I am back where I started.”
    “Waves, Cuts and Curls” offers the regular haircut for children, women and men, along with highlights, colors, perms and waxing.
    The product lines they carry include: Kenra, Biolage, Chi, Paul Mitchell, Matrix, Redken and SoColor.
    The former Infinity crew has kept its regular clientele and has even added more.
    “Thank goodness for Virginia,” said Harris, “If someone walks in she sends them over.”
    The stylists also take walk-ins, especially men.
     “Men see the barber pole, which is half broken and getting fixed, and they ask if we can cut their hair,” explained Harris. “A lot of men walk in for a quick hair cut and get out.”
    Although there is a small parking area beside the hair salon on Mill Street, parking is limited, but access is as much as at the former location.
    Even though North Street is a busy thoroughfare, it’s easy to get to the hair salon.    
    “Traffic really isn’t that bad,” said Harris.  “Mill Street barely gets any, just Main Street. We have one gentleman who said walking to the present location was easier than trying to cross the street in Union Square.”
    “Waves, Cuts and Curls” is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. To set up an appointment, call 532-7789. Harris was able to maintain the same phone number as Infinity.