Hair stylist excited to open her own business on Presque Isle Main Street

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — When Karen Cox stopped her car at a stoplight on Main Street in Presque Isle, next to the shopping area that houses Boulevard Graphix, she knew that the former GiftSmart location would be the ideal place to begin her own hair and tanning salon.

“I actually wasn’t looking to start a business. I was pretty content with where I was,” Cox said, during a recent day at her new Cutting Edge Hair and Tanning Salon. “But then I looked over at this building and it seemed like the perfect location.”

Since then Cox and employees have transformed the 3,000-square-foot former card and gift shop into a spacious salon that offers hair styling — including perms, curling, straightening and braiding — hair coloring, tanning, manicures, pedicures, eyelash extensions and AromaTouch Technique with essential oils. 

The Cutting Edge currently employs four hair stylists, including Cox, a nail technician, AromaTouch specialist and an eyelash extension specialist and is seeking to hire three more hair stylists. In the future, Cox hopes to offer massage therapy.

Cox worked as a hair stylist for The Total Look Salon in Presque Isle for nearly 12 years and said that her employees all have many years of experience and stylists and technicians. The salon accepts both walk-in and scheduled appointments.

“We’ve only been open a week and the walk-ins alone have filled up the employees’ schedules,” Cox said.

Cox noted that the natural lighting coming from the large front windows and easily accessible location and parking lot have helped create a great atmosphere for people coming into the salon. 

“My vision is not just to offer services but to create a very peaceful atmosphere,” Cox said. “I enjoy being able to make someone feel good and to see people smiling.”

The Cutting Edge is located at 631 Main St., Suite 1 in Presque Isle.