Today we’d like to introduce you to Joy Silverstein.
Joy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 1982, I started Fresh Hair with a business partner in the very same location where I still am today. We had 600 square feet which we filled with four other hairstylists by mid-1986. Then there was a fire in the corner grocery next door, and suddenly we were out of business. That lasted for only a few weeks. We took over the corner and rebuilt, adding an office and a skin care room. In 1998 my business partner moved out of state. And I have continued. See http://www.freshhair.com/home/fresh-hair-at-35-years/
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?
Having a business is never smooth: employees have their own individual issues, orders going awry, essential equipment breaks, someone complains, bills seem to outnumber deposits. The fire and smoke damage we endured only four years after we opened was definitely a struggle. Breaking up with a business partner was a struggle but we have overcome that and remain close friends. It’s not always fun, but it is totally engaging.
Fresh Hair – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Fresh Hair is a full-service salon which means that we offer hair+skin+nail care services. We do all textures of hair and all sorts of skin. We also have a spray tanning booth, cosmetics, and lots of retail products. Fresh Hair, Natural Care was our original tagline. From the very beginning, we have used natural and organic ingredient products. Environmental and conservation issues are important: we have solar hot water and we recycle. For many years we have won Best Personal Service in the local newspaper’s contest, and twice we have also been named Friendliest Business.
I am most proud of the longevity of Fresh Hair’s good reputation. Generations of families have continued to support us. What most sets us apart is, I think, the ease and calm you feel here. Our space is open with large sunny windows. Staff members are professional yet down-to-earth. We are also a very diverse crew and always have been; currently, among us, we speak Spanish, French, Greek, and Albanian.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Getting local recognition continues to be fun. I love being able to host block parties by having live music (playing to the little park across the street which gets people dancing) on our roof every summer. Because of the solar thermal panels on the roof and other efforts, we have been a Greenovate winner as well as having received a citation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives. I am most proud when the service providers whom I’ve trained have become successful.
Contact Info:
- Address: 62 South Street, Jamaica Plain 02130
- Website: freshhair.com
- Phone: 617.524.6867
- Email: appointments@freshhair.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshhairsalon/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fresh-Hair
- Twitter: @FreshHairJP
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/fresh-hair-jamaica-plain
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.
