A cut above
(Left) Angela Rainio, Dusty Mavity, owner Jessica Easley, and Teresa Rossi smile for the camera at 180 Hair Lounge's grand opening celebration on Wednesday.
Not pictured: Kayla Garrett
Chanse Watson
Attendees of the grand opening gather around the stylist chairs to chat and check out the newly remodeled building. Before 180 Hair Lounge, the building served as a office and storage area for the old carousel gas and tire.
PINEHURST — For those looking for work on their hair or lashes, a new resource is now available in Pinehurst.
Jessica Easley and the rest of her 180 Hair Lounge team held their grand opening event on Wednesday and are excited to get to work.
Easley, the owner of the business and Silver Valley native, explains that the Lounge has technically been open since July 20, but hasn't been fully staffed until August.
"I've worked a couple 14 hour days. It's been absolutely crazy."
Easley has been doing hair for the past 18 years and after the salon she previously worked for closed down in April, she decided it was time to open her own.
"I just have the means to do it right now," she said. "There were a bunch of us out of work, so I just stepped outside of my comfort zone and did it!"
In just three short months, 180 Hair Salon had completely taken over what used to be Carousel Gas & Tires' old office at 404 N. Division St. in Pinehurst.
"It was a garage that had old oil and tires and just a bunch of crap stuffed into it and now...it couldn't have worked out any better," she said.
The business currently staffs four hair stylists and one eyelash technician.
"Three of us are very big into specialty color," Easley said of the stylists, "but Dusty is also a barber, so she can offer all those services to men that they could get at a barber."
Even in the brief amount of time that the lounge has been open, Easley says business has been busy. She attributes much of this to clients from the former hair salon waiting for 180 Hair Lounge to open.
With all the years of experience she has in the trade, Easley's favorite part of the business is the people.
"I have some really great clients that I've met just doing their hair, but we've become friends," she said. "It's so fun just to come and feel like a therapist! I know that sounds crazy, but it feels great just to sit and take care of people, let them relax, and make them feel good about themselves."
As she's learned very quickly though, there are several challenges to running a small business- many of which were unforeseen.
"There's a lot more to it than I originally anticipated...but I'm a quick learner, so I'll figure it out."
To make an appointment with one of the stylists or the eyelash tech, contact Easley at 208-755-5787.
