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Meet Heather Owen of H2O Salon Spa in Bedford

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Owen.

Heather, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m the owner of award-winning H2O Salon Spa in Bedford, NH and was born into the business–my mother was a hair stylist. I’ve always dreamed of running a great salon. H2O offers the very latest and literally “cutting edge” (pun intended) techniques and exclusive product lines you won’t find anywhere else. Besides being trained in Paris, London and New York, I continue to travel and communicate with industry leaders. There is no other salon in the region that invests in staff as H2O does. I think of the salon as my art studio, and am proud to be considered an industry leader. My salon is my passion, and every day we work to ensure that H2O Salon Spa lives up to its tagline: “Experience. Excellence.”

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest challenges I faced when coming to greater Boston and southern New Hampshire was the lack of advanced education in the field. New Hampshire seemed cut off from the metropolitan areas when it came to the latest techniques and trends. It was not very fashion-forward. For the upscale salon I wanted to create, and to satisfy my own passion for hair design, I created an environment that encourages professional development.
When stylists come out of beauty school, they usually got to “chop shops” where they do 15-minute haircuts at $10 a pop. Same with estheticians who go to “membership” spas, which are limited in services offered. The most they can hope to make is $10 an hour, and they can’t pay back $25,000 in loans on that. Plus, it’s like working on an assembly line. It’s no wonder stylists burn out or quit after 3 years, according to industry statistics.

Please tell us about H2O Salon Spa.
H2O Salon Spa is all about creating a culture of excellence in the beauty industry, specializing in high-end hair and esthetic services for discriminating clients. We invest in our team, and cultivate staff skills and artistry to develop a team culture that inspires them to express their passion. There is no other salon in the region that invests in staff the way I do. When younger service providers come to H2O, their real education and training is just beginning. They work on the styling floor learning advanced techniques under a master stylist, including British precision and French form, before they start working on clients’ hair under observation. The program is selective; we employ the top 1% in our industry, and it takes a lot of drive and education to be the best. We teach presentation, care for the client, even posture and ergonomics so staff has longevity in the field without injury. We promote ongoing education for all staff, including in New York City, where I send them for a week of advanced training. We want to be the first with the latest.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
H2O’s culture of excellence and ongoing professional education draws clients from the Seacoast, Massachusetts, and north of Concord, New Hampshire. I’m very proud that H2O Salon Spa has been recognized by winning numerous awards:

  • 2016 NH A-List City Voter by NHPTV: Best Wedding Hair & Makeup first place; first runner-up Beauty & Wellness category for Best Salon; first runner-up Best Day Spa
  • Named among Top 100 Hair Salons in Elle magazine
  • Business Excellence Award from New Hampshire Business Review in 2012
  • Voted Best Salon, New Hampshire Magazine 3 consecutive years (1 was editors’ pick for Best Hair Color)

Also, selected to do “Cinderella Makeovers” for Applaud magazine contest winners. We’ve also been featured on WMUR-TV and New Hampshire Chronicle. Because of our photo shoots and editorial work, we’ve become a hub for models who are coming in for services, but also work for their portfolios.

Beyond what people think about when they hear “hair salon,” H2O is involved in “editorial” styling. This includes styling for fashion shows (such as New York City’s Fashion Week), magazine spreads, and TV including commercials. Editorial styling is where stylists prepare a model or actress’s hair style, then, within minutes, transform that style into another, and then another. Meanwhile, cameras are capturing these transformations. Sometimes the change in look includes wardrobe, accessories and makeup. Due to our reputation for professionalism and artistry, we draw people such as celebrity hairstylist Nick Arrojo of TV’s What Not to Wear to the salon for special events. This year alone the H2O Salon Spa team hosted nationally ranked educators for in-house events 4 times.

WHAT SETS BUSINESS APART?
We are consistently on top of the latest trends, not just in hair design and esthetic skin care, but in marketing the business. New clients can book an appointment with the featured stylist of the day on Twitter for a discount. H2O is on Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. The website offers video, portfolios, and a blog. There is a branded wall featuring professional studio lighting for H2O’s signature selfie station, where we and client’s can take before-and-after photos. Instant gift certificates are offered on the website. Services include salon and spa, and an H2O-branded line of all-natural mineral makeup. Only the best quality product lines are offered, with the purest, most natural ingredients. We offer a signature, proprietary 7-step consultation to each new client. Clients are entered into a VIP club which offers loyalty rewards including complimentary bangs trims between cuts (so clients always reflect the best of the salon).

As I mentioned, offering ongoing professional development for our stylists is unique in our region. But something else we do that we’re passionate about is community involvement. Because every woman deserves to feel beautiful, for more than 8 years we have partnered with the Families in Transition (FIT) shelter to do makeovers on clients who are ready to get their own apartments and/or enter or reenter the job market. Clients of FIT and AmeriCorps volunteers are selected for complete makeovers. We close the salon for the day, and the women arrive, to enjoy the same VIP treatment salon clients receive at no cost to them.

It’s a long day and we’re working hard but we love these sessions. It means as much to us as it does to the clients because we know we’re truly making a difference for them, boosting their confidence and self-esteem. A makeover gives these deserving FIT clients, previously homeless or in treatment for addiction but ready to move out of FIT’s shelters, a tremendous boost in confidence just when they need it. A professional photographer does before and after photos. Sometimes we invite our clients to participate in our community involvement by donating gently worn business and career wear for FIT.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Copley Place, shopping on Newbury Street, the arts and entertainment including the ballet, the Boston Symphony Orchestra. I love the culture and refinement the city offers, the MFA. I’m proud of my Irish roots so I love the whole pub scene. And what an amazing sports town! Coming from Washington, DC, the diversity of entertainment choices within a smaller metropolitan footprint here is wonderful.

Like least? Traffic! That’s one of the main reasons I left Washington, DC. Thankfully, I have no need to commute!

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Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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