The New You offers complete makeover experience

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
BRANCHING OUT — Shanrda Campbell, owner of The New You salon and fitness center in Houlton, gives a perm to Lorraine Kinney Friday morning. The salon and fitness center opened June 15.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — If diversity is the key to success in business, then Shandra Campbell’s new venture  — The New You — should be a surefire hit.
    The New You, a full service hair salon and fitness center located on 70 Bangor St., opened for business on June 15 and held a grand opening last Saturday.
    A resident of Danforth, Campbell has operated a hair salon from her home for the past 15 years. She plans to continue cutting hair in that area on Saturdays only.
    “I went to hair school right out of high school and have been doing it for about 22 years,” Campbell said. “It kind of runs in my family. My mother, sister, aunt and cousin are all hair dressers. It seems to be in our blood.”
    Assisting Campbell is Tara Day, who specializes in manicures and pedicures as well as hair styling. Another stylist, Chelsea Ledger, will be joining the staff when she finishes her training in August.
    The New You salon is roughly 2,500 square feet and features three stations for hair, a separate fitness room, as well as private rooms for manicures/pedicures, tanning and massage. Campbell said she decided to expand her business to Houlton after researching salons and fitness centers in the area.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
FITNESS ROOM — A dedicated room for working out is featured at The New You salon and fitness center. The equipment is set up as part of a “circuit training” and is geared towards women interested in cardiovascular exercises.
    “I was also going to lose Tara from my home office, as she was looking for a job here in Houlton,” Campbell said. “Instead of losing her, I thought, ‘Why not find a building in Houlton to open a new salon?’”
    Day has been cutting hair and doing manicures/pedicures for about three years. She resides in Linneus.
    Day said she performs cuts, colors, perms, waxing, manicures and pedicures at the salon. The manicure/pedicure room also has a massaging chair for clients to relax in, enhancing the experience.
    Campbell said she looked at a couple of locations, but once she saw the space at 70 Bangor St, she knew she had found her salon.
    “I found the building and immediately pictured the space to what I wanted it to be,” Campbell said.
    Aside from being a full beauty salon, the New You offers manicures, pedicures and massages with therapist Ellie Hagerman.
    The fitness center features a variety of cardiovascular pieces of equipment. Campbell said the fitness center, which utilizes a circuit training technique, targets women who may not be comfortable working out in a gym with both men and women. The equipment is similar to items found in the “Curves” fitness centers that are popular with women.
    “We have treadmills, stationary bikes and will hopefully add some more in the future,” Campbell said.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
PEDICURES AND MORE — Tara Day, a stylist at the New You, also performs pedicures and manicures at the salon.
    Memberships are required for the fitness center and are available on a daily or monthly pass. The monthly rate is $35 or $4 per day. Special rates have been also been offered during their grand opening.
    “We think the gym and massage therapy goes really well together,” Campbell said. “The gym is also a good draw for our salon because women come in, work out and then ask if we have time for a haircut.”
    One of Campbell’s goals is to start a “Give Back” program for cancer patients. The program would provide free wig services to those who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments. The services include buying, fitting and styling the wig to the person’s liking.
    “If anyone has ever been affected by cancer, they would understand how devastating it can be,” Campbell said. “I did two for family members and no one even knew they lost their hair. There are no services like this in the area.”
    The fitness center is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Salon hours vary from day-to-day. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 532-6004.