For the past 10 years Letitia Huston and Andree Poitras have worked together to help turn Reflections Hair Studio into a place where people can get quality service for their hair in Golden.
Huston explained that when they became partners they did not really know each other too well.
“We had worked in the industry together for only about six months,” Huston said. “I put the bug in Andree’s ear and she said, no, several times before I finally said something to convince her.”
When the chance came up to start the salon the pair took over a different type of business, and then took some time to make it their own.
“It was called Body Essence when we first purchased it. Then we changed the name because we couldn’t come up with a name in the beginning,” Huston said.
“It had become more of a hair salon rather than an esthetic salon. So being that it was called Body Essence, it really didn’t suit what was going on in here at the time” Poitras added.
Both owners explained how they knew from a young age that they always wanted to work in the industry.
“I wanted to be a hair dresser when I was a teenager. I ended up having my family first, and then I went to hairdressing school with two kids in tow,” Poitras said.
Huston added she wanted to be a hair dresser from an even younger age.
“I have wanted to be a hair dresser since I was six years old. I would be playing with my Barbies and trying to braid their hair. When I was in high school they had a co-op program and one of my teachers had seen that I wasn’t really a scholar in school, but I was artistic in other ways. He asked me what it was that I wanted to do. I told him I wanted to be a hair dresser and it helped put me in a salon,” he said.
Huston eventually got a placement in another salon with a hair dresser who has become a mentor to her over the years.
“The appeal to me was that I liked fun hair. I liked pretty hair. I liked the industry, and where it could take me,” Huston said.
She added that when she was younger she had dreams of doing the hair of movie stars, and on at least one occasion in Golden, she did get that chance.
“I did hair for Alyssa Milano. It was her private wedding and there was a lot of pressure,” she said.
They said they have a simple philosophy when it comes to what they try to do for their customers.
“I think we strive to have great customer service. In our business we want everyone leaving here loving their hair. That is one thing we really strive to do. If they are not happy, then we want them to come back to rectify that very quickly,” Huston said.
Poitras said that many people they know are blown away that they are not only still partners, but also friends after 10 years together.
“We have had our hard times. It is not easy, and a lot of work. If you do not have communication in a partnership and a business, it is not going to last,” Huston said. “We are closer now. I think we are good at knowing each other’s boundaries.”
They also said they wanted to thank the people who work for them for their dedication to the shop.
“Thank you. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without the people who have worked with us in the past and going forward into the future. Right now this is the best team we have ever had in our 10 years in business,” Huston said.
Huston said they have a staff that is full of passion about what they are doing, and that makes all the difference to the business and the customers.
Poitras added it is a dream team right now for the shop.
“They are invaluable. You can not put a price on it,” she said. “If your passion is there for that business it is something that keeps you going.”
The women added that when they started out they faced a great deal trouble in getting the financing for the business.
“As females you really are hitting more brick walls than being a male starting a business,” Poitras said.
Huston added they owed a great deal to Pat Weatherall who helped them during their first year or two in business.
“She really believed in Andree and I as partners, and she believed we had the right idea. She financed us to purchase her business,” she said.
