Chicago Hair Salon in the Community

Now recycling all hair for use in mats to absorb oil.

Annual Cut-a-thon to benefit Boulder County Social Services
April 25th 2010
We have all heard of children in need of adoption.  In addition to giving money through a days work, we will also be providing some of the children with free haircuts throughout the year.  On Sunday April 25th, we opened from 10am to 4pm and donate all service receipts to Boulder County Social Services.  All cuts $40. We raised over $1300 for children entering the Social Services system, bring our two-year total to almost $2600.

Annual Cut-a-thon to benefit Boulder County Social Services
April 26th 2009
We have all heard of children in need of adoption.  In addition to giving money through a days work, we will also be providing some of the children with free haircuts throughout the year.  On April 26th, we opened from 10am to 4pm and donated all service receipts to Boulder County Social Services.  We raised over $1200 for children entering the Social Services system.

Chicago Hair Pays It Forward Makeover Photoshoot                                                            June 15, 2008                                                           Chicago Hair, a locally owned North Boulder hair salon, paid it forward with free makeovers to four amazing women who have overcome adversity. Liz and David Pruess, co-owners of Chicago Hair, asked for nominations of women who were in need of a little pampering. Of the four women, two are breast cancer survivors associated with the Rocky Mountain Team Survivor, and the other two endured marital hardships for a number of years. The women received free hair and make-up makeovers from the staff of Chicago Hair. J.J. Wells, a locally owned women’s clothing store,  worked with the models to find the right outfit for the day of the shoot.. Liz Pruess says "our hope is to give back to our community by providing services to women that have been through a lot and might need, but don’t take the time for a treat like having your hair and make-up done". Deb Svoboda of Rocky Mountain Team Survivor was one of the models. Deb says “41/2 years ago, shortly after my 39^th Birthday I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had just been told my mother had Parkinson’s and I had an 18 month old daughter, I was overwhelmed. Throughout the process I maintained “control” of my hair. When it began to fall out- I got a mohawk. When it began to come back, I got amazing short hair styles. My journey back to “normal” occurred when I met Dora Briegleb [another Chicago Hair model] of the Rocky Mountain Team Survivor.” The day of the event the  women modeled their new looks. ‘It was exciting to witness a women realize how beautiful and special she is.’ said Liz Pruess about one of the models who is taking control of her and her sons life ‘It was extremely powerful.”

• Zaida Mattson Cut-a-Thon
  At Chicago Hair in January 2008
  Liz Pruess cuts Alli Angullo's hair to help raise money for Zaida Mattson, a Lafayette child with cancer, in Boulder on Sunday. Chicago Hair opened Sunday for a Cut-a-Thon with all proceeds going to help Zaida.
• St Baldrick's Day  
                                                At the Republic of Boulder, March 2007
  Two stylists from Chicago Hair shave heads at the third annual St. Baldrick's Day celebration. Many people went bald Saturday as part of the event, designed to raise money for cancer research.

Hair Blog

A New Decade

-By Liz Pruess, Salon Owner

 Chicago Hair Salon turned 21 at the end of April, we celebrated with our 2nd Annual Benefit for Children in Boulder County Social Service’s. On Sun. April 25th our hairstylists did haircuts with all proceeds going to buy clothes our own Boulder County Foster Care kids. It feels great for us to pull together as a team and help the people in our community.
Chicago Hair Salon just completed it’s third year at Uptown Broadway. As the salon grows, we are keeping prices reasonable and our value high. We have had an on going one time discount of $10 off a hair color and $5 off a haircut. We have also started offering students 10% off. We feel our haircuts look fantastic through out the life of the haircut. North Boulder residents have been very supportive of the local business’s at Uptown Broadway.
We are also concentrating on buying from local business’s, it’s important to keep our dollars funneling back into our local community. I have been regularly stopping at Sunflower Groceries, the produce is consistently good. The bulk options and their fish are also worth the trip. When we eat out its easy to support local businesses. Lets face it, we have some amazing food in this town. A few of our favorites are Bacco at Uptown Broadway and Aji on Pearl St. The boutiques on Pearl St. have some surprisingly inexpensive dresses. We have found some bargains at Violette and Pitaya, both on Pearl St.
There is a lot interesting buzz at Uptown Broadway in the New Year. The cost of purchasing a Retail Condominium unit went down to $265 a square foot. It generated a lot interest. A new Italian restaurant Bacco opened (they already have a successful concept in Littleton), FasCat, a trainer to elite cyclists, is opening soon and an architect firm specializing in Animal Clinics is also opening soon. The City of Boulder is starting a review for a 96 unit apartment complex at Broadway and Violet. Of course the Uptown Broadway and The Holiday neighborhood are fortunate to have Namaste Solar as a business neighbor.
I look forward to being in North Boulder for the long run and watch all the changes coming it’s way.

Maintaining value services during a recession

     With all of us watching our spending, how do we still look and feel good about ourselves? The easiest way to maintain our sanity is to take care of ourselves. Fortunately it’s inexpensive to get plenty of sleep, eat well and exercise. I know it’s been said over and over but if you aren’t taking care of yourself everything else suffers. I think we all feel better when we put some effort into ourselves. It starts with attitude and what are we saying to others and ourselves.

We may have less to spend on ourselves right now but those of us lucky enough to have a regular income can still budget to present ourselves in way that will attract others to us, both personally and professionally. Now is the time to reinvest in yourself, whether it’s with a class, a new pair of pants or a quality hairstyle.

I’ve noticed retailers are reacting to the consumer’s worries with deep discounts from clothing to hair services. As one of my co-workers, Meredith, said “Discounting is needed for our clients right now.” Chicago Hair Salon is responding by offering a one-time discount of 10% off any service.  More importantly we must keep our value high. We feel it’s more important to have a haircut or hair color that will look great from the first day and will fulfill your needs throughout the life of the haircut or hair color.

There ways to stretch your visits to a Boulder hair salon. Let your stylist know how often you plan on getting your hair cut or colored. There are haircuts that can last 3 to 4 months instead of 6 weeks. Even men's haircuts can be prolonged by having your stylist clean up the neckline and sideburns, even cleaning up around the ear can allow you to wait another few weeks for a haircut. At Chicago Hair Salon we will do this free of charge for our regular clients. For our female clients we do free bang trims. This makes a huge difference in the look and life of the haircut. There are products that color clients can use to disguise their grey outgrowth. Bumble and Bumble Hair powder comes in five different colors. It can be sprayed at the root to camouflage grey outgrowth.  It also works as dry shampoo, the powder adhering to the natural oil in the hair, giving it fullness. Quality products cost more initially but last longer and perform better. Even $5 is a lot to spend on shampoo that leaves your hair limp and oily at the end of the day.

Hopefully the American consumer is going through a permanent paradigm shift from want to need based consumer goods.

We have been busy (and not only servicing clients). Our team also works very hard on staying relevant and current. Shauna and Meredith led a razor bob class for our stylists last night. As a career hairstylist, watching these young woman share all their passion and expertise with us makes me feel the continuity of art in our chosen path. From the women in the early 20th century who boldly bobbed their hair ( I’m sure they were the same women who secured women’s right to vote) to the 21st century woman (who truly does it all) who wants to look great without the fuss, I feel fortunate to have had my time in this great industry. When I started out as a hairstylist men were just starting to go to hair salons. Most of the salon of the 1970s and 80s had the term "unisex" on their signs, I’ve never been a fan of that term, it just sounds silly! I’m glad I started out at a time when men's cuts would be a big part of my career and income. Men's cutting has always been a big part of Chicago Hair Salon and I wouldn't have it any other way. We all know we need more women in science and we also need more hairstylists who approach their career as if it were microbiology. I’m lucky to work with stylists who take their careers so seriously.

 

The State of The Industry September 2009

As we head toward the last quarter of 2009, thankfully, I feel grateful to have kept my head and shoulders out of water. Some businesses and industries have not been as lucky. We have been busy (and not only servicing clients). Our team also works very hard on staying relevant and current. Shauna and Meredith led a razor bob class for our stylists last night. As a career hairstylist, watching these young woman share all their passion and expertise with us makes me feel the continuity of art in our chosen path. From the women in the early 20th century who boldly bobbed their hair ( I’m sure they were the same women who secured women’s right to vote) to the 21st century woman (who truly does it all) who wants to look great without the fuss, I feel fortunate to have had my time in this great industry. When I started out as a hairstylist men were just starting to go to hair salons. Most of the salon of the 1970s and 80s had the term "unisex" on their signs, I’ve never been a fan of that term, it just sounds silly! I’m glad I started out at a time when men's cuts would be a big part of my career and income. Men's cutting has always been a big part of Chicago Hair Salon and I wouldn't have it any other way. We all know we need more women in science and we also need more hairstylists who approach their career as if it were microbiology. I’m lucky to work with stylists who take their careers so seriously.

2009 Fundraiser for Social Services

On April 26th we had a cut-a-thon to raise money to buy clothes for children in Boulder County Social Services. We thought of this idea when one of clients who works for Social Services told us she just placed two children who came to her with just the clothes on their backs. I guess I never really thought about how dire some situations are for children in our own community.
Since talking to Brandy Queen that day I’ve had the opportunity to learn a lot more about the services provided by Social Services. Another Chicago Hair client has just completed training in C.A.S.A. She will be a child advocate in court and legal settings. Ilene, has also been mentoring two young girls who are being raised by their Grandmother. Once a week she spends time with these girls and gives Grandma a well deserved break. We provide Gift Cards to Social Services and I was fortunate to cut the Grandmas hair. It was a honor to meet and talk to Connie. She is a long time Lafayette resident. I also live in Lafayette and she was able to teach me some of the history of the town I’ve raised my children in.
Thomi Quakenbush (volunteer coordinator for Social Services) and I started planning this benefit in January. Thomi was a hairstylist for many years so we immediately hit off. Her enthusiasm and energy greatly increased the success of our benefit. Thomi worked the event with us. She helped sweep hair and do towels on her day off. We had a young lady in the salon who was placed in Social Services when she was four and now is a beautiful, successful 31 year old women. I’ve heard stories of Social Services employees in other communities who are jaded and too busy to do what is best for the children. In Boulder County these people care so much for these children. I hope we can all find some way to make these children know we care because after all they our children. The 1st annual benefit was a resounding success. In 6 hours 6 hairstylists raised $1200. Our hairstylists all donated a day of work. I’m one lucky salon owner to have such a caring staff. I can’t wait till next year. Anyone out there want to join us?

Finding Value in Services and Products

 The first quarter of 2009, I found my family having to invest in a few big purchases.
Only a week after picking up our 1996 GM Blazer from the shop for some maintenance, we were driving home when the S.U.V started making some very loud and, no doubt, expensive noises. We decided not to spend more money on an aging car and decided to look at new cars. Our needs are different then they were in 1996 and we were able to look at more compact cars. After doing some internet research, we decided to take a look at a Toyota Yaris. The next day my family went to look at cars at Boulder Toyota. We made a quick decision and bought a 2009 Yaris. They were happy to have our business and we were excited to have a more fuel efficient new car. The service was great and the incentives were nice. The Yaris is small yet it has five seats. My husband is 6’1 and it has head room for him. It is really well designed and the best part is it gets 35 miles per gallon of gas. As I drive it, I feel the people who engineered it truly thought of the end result ( making the customer happy.) What a bonus for having to replace your old S.U.V!
The next purchase we made for our oldest daughter who is starting C.U in the fall. For her 18th birthday we bought her first computer. She wanted a Apple Macbook, so I found myself at the Apple Store at the Twentyninth Street Mall. I was surprised at how excited I became when the apple employee started showing us all the MacBook could do. I knew about half way through the presentation I would have to have one. I’ve never had my own computer, until now. As of this weekend we now have two MacBooks in the house ( it was the morning after our March blizzard and the Apple store was humming with activity). It is changing my relationship with computers. I feel if you are a creative person or in a creative business Apple computers are the way to go. I decided to go ahead and get one after my co-worker Laura (who also just purchased a Macbook) was telling me for a extra $100 you can attend a class once a week, for a year at the Apple Store. The classes made me confident I could learn all my investment had to offer.
It’s much easier to make big purchases when you feel you are getting your moneys worth.
Chicago Hair Salon is always looking to emulate other great business models. We are focused on providing great value and service so our clients don’t have be concerned if their hair is going to look great during a meeting or a vacation. Our focus in March has been team building. We have found we really share the same vision for our clients and ourselves. It has brought us closer together as a group. It went so well, we will be incorporating a team building class into our class schedule every four months. It will allow us to keep up with any changing realities and address them promptly. The workshop was based on a book called Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott, I highly recommend it for help in maintaining real open communication in personal and professional relationships.

Cautiously Optimistic for the New Year

-by Liz Pruess, Salon Owner

     The New Year 2009 is off to a strong start.  Last week, (ending January 31) we accommodated both new and regular clients.  On the guys I noticed cuts going a little shorter, still with a lot of movement and texture.  They all left the Salon looking really good! 

     Women were cutting off literally yards of long hair.  We were able to donate some beautiful hair to Locks of Love.  Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term illness.  Several women went from very long hair to shoulder and chin length, with long, low layers.

     Chicago Hair Salon has been doing appropriate weight removal so the hair has more movement and will look better no matter which way it falls.

     At our Boulder Salon we always do a lot of hair color.  This week I've noticed us working with new clients to improve the highlights they came in with.  I'm very proud of our stylists and their ability to turn a color from mediocre to beautiful in one visit.

     I'm excited and hopeful for a great 2009! 

More Information

• We recycle all hair for use in mats to absorb oil.
• We love giving back to the community.
• Our clients may request a gift bag for a charity auction they are participating in.
• We have given out over 15 gift bags worth over $1000 in the last year.
• We raised over $2500 for Boulder County Social Services in April 2009 and April 2010
• We raised $1223 for Zaida Mattson in January 2008.