Partners who 'click' welcome customers to new salon
By Anya Tikka
MILFORD — Milford’s new, full-service Unisex Beauty Supply and Salon, located in the Old Schoolhouse building, is ready for appointments and walk-ins.
Co-owner Susan Brown said the shop opened last September, after extensive remodeling. The salon now has three expansive rooms for the different treatments, services, and products the boutique-like salon offers.
Brown partnered with Gina Bonanno in the new venture after the two met while working in an area salon. They’d both always wanted to open their own place.
“But on your own, it’s hard," Brown said. "So once we met, clicked and became friends, we decided to go for it."
It took three months of hard work, from 10 to 8 at night, to get everything ready.
“We were supposed to be up the street in another building, but it fell through, Brown said. "But I saw an ad for rent outside here, and I just loved it. I told Gina. We painted and cleaned everything, and remodeled the rooms."
The new boutique offers all salon services and products, including manicures and pedicures, waxing, massage, ear piercing, haircuts, color, blowout, and highlights.
“One service we also offer is little girl birthday parties," Brown said. "The kids and their parents come and hire the salon for the party."
A typical catered party will accommodate up to 10 girls, ages 10 to 11. They get treated to the braiding of their hair, and the polishing of their nails with funky colors — if parents allow it. They also get gifts bags to take home. Parents can bring snacks, and the salon sets up tables for the party, at a cost of $200 for two hours.
Also available are other products like jewelry, handbags and scarves.
“It’s a mixture of different types of jewelry,” Brown explained. “We have magnetic interchangeable necklaces and rings, for which we deal with a company in California.”
You buy the basic bracelet, ring, or necklace, and then can change the stone to go with your outfit or mood.
“But we carry all different kinds of jewelry, costume mostly, but also some real stones," she said. "And handbags, scarves, all kinds of accessories."
“We’re going to be doing hair growth service and products for thinning hair," she said. "It’s a new thing in this area."
You may need 12 visits once a month to get the full effect. After that, the company Eprouvage, whose products are used at the shop, recommends two or three things to keep up.
“We do treatments, and then you can buy products if you want to keep going at home," said Brown. "They included stimulants, serum, and shampoos.”
Since the shop is on one of Milford’s main roads, it gets lots of walk-ins. But because of the historic nature of the building, no large signs can be put on the outside walls.
”Many return, and a lot of people who know us from our previous jobs come from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania,” Bonanno said.
Brown is from New Jersey originally, and has worked as a hairdresser for 39 years, and in massage for 17 years.
“I worked for doctors, doing all kinds of medical massage, plus relaxation massage," she said. "Say somebody comes in and has sciatic nerve problems, or foot or neck only problems. I target that area only, and use heat and cold on that injured area only for half an hour. Relaxation massage treats head and neck only.”
She went to the Hackensack Englewood School of Massage Therapy, and to the Capri Institute of Hair Design in New Jersey, where she also taught.
Bonanno has always concentrated “just on hair.” She grew up in Sussex County, and has lived in Dingmans Ferry since 2007. She worked in the Middletown Galleria for seven years, and has been doing hair almost 20 years.
The co-owners also give to the community, including donations to tricky trays and Dingman Elementary School fundraisers.
“You have to have a sense of humor," she said. "You have to be friendly, you have to be there when they need you. That’s the way it is in this line of work."
Brown interjected, with a smile: “I’ve heard it all, it’s almost being a kind of therapist. As soon as they sit down, out comes everything.”