Continuing a tradition in hair care, Schaefer opens business

For three months Nicole Shaefer has been offering haircuts on Main Avenue, renting her space from Kim Yaeger, as a part of a long family tradition of hair styling.

After graduating from Ritzville High School in 2008, Nicole began her schooling at Glen Dow Academy of Hair Design in Spokane.

For six months she learned the practices of a hair stylist.

Nicole did not finish her schooling at Glen Dow however, and moved back to Ritzville where she worked at a variety of different jobs including bartending at the Pastime and the Eagles.

It was while bartending she decided it was time to find a career that she enjoyed and began trying to get back into her schooling.

She applied to Char-Glo School of Beauty in Moses Lake last summer where she completed her education.

While she was in school Yaeger contacted Nicole and offered her the opportunity to rent a space to begin her practice.

This spring she passed her written and practical boards to receive her license and worked out a deal with Yaeger to open her business.

Since then she has been offering hair cuts to men, women and children as well as full color services, up-dos and facial waxing. She does not offer manicures or pedicures.

She did not work for another hairdresser or large chain business to build her experience, but rather decided to jump in with both feet and become a business owner.

Her main reason for not seeking a starting job in Moses Lake or Spokane was the drive from Ritzville since she did not plan on moving out of Ritzville.

Currently Nicole’s salon is open from Tuesday through Friday, however, her hours of operation will change soon when she starts another part-time job to supplement her income.

Nicole enjoys her business and the opportunities to learn each day. She is busy learning all she can about hair coloring and wants that to become her specialty. Nicole also enjoys up-dos and has done several already. She got her start doing up-dos for her friends in high school.

“I’ve had a lot of good experience,” she said “I love just going ‘oh I don’t really care this is kind of what my look is that I’m going for’ and I’m like aright and just start pinning.”

Nicole has done Dede Brown’s hair for her wedding and Amanda Yockey’s hair for prom.

She also enjoys cutting children’s hair as well.

“A lot of them are super cute,” Nicole said.

Nicole said that having her own business has had its ups and downs but she really enjoys it, mostly because every day is different.

“It’s a lot easier than I thought first going in,” Nicole said.

She enjoys the unique challenges that come through the door with each new client and how it makes her a better hairdresser.

“I really want to constantly, nonstop, grow,” she said.

In addition to her services as a hairdresser, Nicole offers Matrix, a professional grade line of hair care products, for purchase at her location.

The main reason for choosing that brand was its affordability for the quality of product.

“I really just don’t know what people want,” she said.

Though she does not carry the full line of products she can special order a product she doesn’t regularly carry for customers and sometimes she gets extras to put on the shelf as well.

“If one person needs it another person might need it,” she said, “You never know.”

Nicole also uses Matrix for the color she offers at her studio. Of all the different brands she has used during her schooling she chose this one because it is true to the color swatches and the color stays very well after application.

Nicole’s Hair Studio is open 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. four days a week.

Appointments can be made via phone at 509-850-7567 or online at http//:www.styleseat.com/nicolehairstudio.