“It’s [like] what salons used to be back in the ’80s when I started doing hair,” Ward said. “We can complement each other, and we can support each other, and we can help each other.”
In the nearly two years since its opening, Hair’em & Nail’em has filled three of its four salon stations with a stylist and assistant. Ward serves as a mentor to the other stylists but said she is continuously learning from the classes they take.
“I had worked [by] myself for 17 years, and I wanted to be able to ... bring in people that could learn [so] we could grow and go to classes together,” Ward said.
The pandemic has been a challenge for Hair’em & Nail’em, Ward said, but the team has decided to approach it without fear.
“We as a group decided that we need to change the conversation, and we need to find people that want to beat the drum with us to being happy moving forward,” Ward said. “Staying still and stagnant isn’t fun for us.”
Instead, Hair’em & Nail’em is focusing on building relationships with current clients and future clients.
“Relationships are very important,” she said. “We very much try to build relationships with our clients so that they know that we are here for them.”
The salon was forced to close in March but reopened in early May. As clients have returned for services, sanitation expectations for stylists remain at the same level or higher than what is called for by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mask and distance requirements are some of the only safety precautions that were not already in place at the salon.
“I saw a post, ... and it said, ‘I wish other places would clean their businesses the way hairdressers [do],’” Ward said with a laugh. “We follow sanitation.”
Hair’em & Nail’em
2301 N. Central Expressway, Ste. 290, Plano
972-578-7656
www.hairemandnailem.com
Hours: Tue.-Thu. noon-8 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Sun.-Mon.
