Meet Catie Keene of Vanity Hair Salon in Wakefield

Today we’d like to introduce you to Catie Keene.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I knew I wanted to be a hairdresser or a nurse from a very young age. I was always drawn to taking care of people and I knew both those careers were perfect for that (in very different ways of course, but both very important), however I knew that nursing school and college in general just weren’t for me. I have never been good at sitting still in a classroom, and I despise working holidays so I knew nursing was out. I started at the front desk of a salon in high school to make sure I really enjoyed the culture of working in a salon- and I absolutely loved it! It was exactly what I was looking for in a career. Passionate, creative people, a friendly, buzzing atmosphere and always a new client to meet and take care of every couple hours or so.

After working the front desk/assisting at that salon full time and waitressing at my best friend’s family’s restaurant part time, while being full time in hairdressing school I learned a lot about work ethic and the drive it would take to make this career a full time, well-paying gig. After working at many different “style” of salons and having many different co-workers and bosses I learned so much more than just how to perfect my craft. I learned that more than anything, salons were made successful by the clients who visited them and the stylists/people who took care of those clients. Some salons taught me exactly what NOT to do and some salons taught me how to make the experience much better than average.

Luckily for me when I was 25 I was working at a salon for only a couple weeks and it was not the place for me at all. I left a salon I was at that was friendly and comfortable but not as busy, so this new salon was supposed to be a step up in my career. Let’s just say I walked to and from work so I could cry the whole way. It seemed like it would’ve been a great opportunity but it was just the opposite. It made me question if I even wanted to be a hair stylist anymore if this was what it was like to be in a thriving and successful salon. One day my then boyfriend, now husband said to me “This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. You used to be so happy at work and this is making you feel so small, you need to open your own place and make it exactly what you want. If they can do it why can’t you?!.” That got me thinking…he was right! But of course I was terrified so I called my Mom, Dad, sister and of course my wise, financially savvy older brother and asked their opinions. They were thrilled and thought it would be a great idea. So, my brother and I sat down at his kitchen table with a flip pad of paper and he helped me make a plan. That was a Tuesday evening and by Friday I had signed a lease on Albion Street in Wakefield at a tiny, but adorable little spot that my father, younger brother and husband made into a 4 chair salon! I was lucky that I had a few best friends from different salons I had worked at that came on this journey with me. Without all of these people’s support I never would’ve thought I could do it.

After one year in Albion St. we outgrew that salon and needed a bigger location. That’s when we found our current home in the Greenwood Plaza, also in Wakefield at 979 Main Street. We have now been open for 7 years and have 6 hair stylists who absolutely adore the work we do and who we get to do it with.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I am extremely lucky in the sense that I knew who I wanted to work with me and that they all came along for the ride so I didn’t have to find a whole team from scratch. It’s really just the little headaches of growing and owning a business that are hard… like balancing motherhood (I have a 3 year old son), being a good wife/daughter/sister/ aunt/friend while keeping all the salon stuff running smoothly and keeping my team and my clients happy. Or when your computer crashes and all your appointments are lost for the next 6 months and you are scrambling to find an IT guy on a Friday of a Holiday weekend while there are brides calling to confirm that we will be at their venue bright and early the next week and you can’t remember all the details without your computer! Ha! But there are so many pros to outweigh the cons. It’s a constant struggle to find enough time in the day but we all feel that way so I just feel extremely blessed that these are the “struggles” I face.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Vanity Hair Salon – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I think it’s our way of making everyone feel like you are just sitting at a girlfriend’s kitchen counter, gabbing while you’re in the salon. We pride ourselves on our welcoming atmosphere and genuine love of what we do. We enjoy getting to hang out with our friends and clients as we “work” making a living. Having the type of schedules that still allow us to be around for our families and our kids is something we are so grateful for, because we are always excited to be back behind the chair after a couple days off. I think that our talent is matched by our excitement for learning and our happiness of getting to bring it all together for our clients passes right on to them.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
As of now we are super happy where we are. We would love to be able to add a little bit of square footage so we could spread out a bit and have a more privatized color and hair extension area but there’s no immediate plans for any of that. We are just excited to see what happens next, knowing that things are ever changing in this business so ya just never know!

Contact Info:

• Address: 979 Main Street. (Greenwood Plaza)
  Wakefield MA 01880
• Website: Vanityhairwakefield.com
• Phone: 781-245-5040
• Email: vanityhairsalon1@gmail.com
• Instagram: @Vanitywakefield
• Facebook: Vanity Hair Salon

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