Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
CELEBRATING — Modern Beauty Salon in Houlton is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. Reviewing some color samples are Linda Pilsbury, left, joined by some of her staff, Deanna Boisvert and Janet McKay Brewer.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Over the years, generations have come through the 48 Main St. doors of the Modern Beauty Salon.
In May, the salon will celebrate its 35th anniversary. Opened by Helen Hatfield in 1979, Modern Beauty Salon has gone through a couple of transformations over the years. Originally, the salon was located in what is now referred to as the “back room” of the current establishment, but expanded to the corner a few years later.
For the past 19 years, Linda Pilsbury has been the owner of the shop. Many of those who own parlors in the Shiretown can trace their roots to Modern Beauty Salon, including Pilsbury.
Pilsbury got her start in hairdressing by attending Hatfield’s beauty school in Woodstock, N.B. and when Modern Beauty opened in Houlton, Pilsbury was one of the first people Hatfield called.
“I had been doing hair out of my home for a few years and ran my own place in Presque Isle called ‘Golden Shears.’” Pilsbury said. “I came to work for Mrs. Hatfield and right from the beginning, I told her that if there ever came a time she wanted to sell the business, I was interested.”
The business has changed dramatically over the years. Today, there are six stylists who rent booth space from Pilsbury.
“When I first bought the salon, the girls worked for me,” Pilsbury said. “Now, they work for themselves and rent booths. That works so much better because they are able to come and go as they please. They have their own clientele and their own equipment.”
Pilsbury said the change in operations was a welcome one.
“I love doing hair, but I hated doing paperwork,” she said. “Being a hairdresser is something that I have always loved doing. You meet so many wonderful people and get to know them and their children. Plus I have a great bunch of girls that work here.”
Several of the stylists in the salon have worked there for many years, while others moved on to open their own hair business in Houlton. Hairstyles have come and gone as well. Pixie cuts, the mullet, the wedge, bobs and up-dos are all styles that had their heyday, but are still done to this day. So too are perms, which Pilsbury does quite a few of on a regular basis.
Coloring hair and highlights are some of the most popular services offered at the parlor. Occasionally, the salon offers classes to fellow hairdressers on some of the latest coloring techniques.
Along with stylists Megan Norton, Jess Fitzpatrick, Deanna Boisvert, Liza Leavitt, Allison Baber, Janet McKay Brewer and Pilsbury, the salon offers hair services for both men and women, as well as pedicures, manicures and waxing.
“If you do a basic haircut on someone, it looks different from one person to the next because everybody’s head is shaped just a little bit different,” Pilsbury said.
For more information on Modern Beauty Salon, call 532-2001.
