Having known each other for at least a decade and after operating businesses practically next door to each other, Lynne Sergeant and Cindy Smith are joining forces. On Saturday, the two women are opening Halo Hair Design and Emporium.
The under-one-roof enterprise will showcase the hair-styling talent of Sergeant, who formerly owned Halo Hair Design, and vintage and antique items Smith became known for when she operated Winter Cache.
Halo Hair Design and Emporium is located on the second floor of the Hillas Building, Suites 11 and 12. Saturday’s open house is from 11 a.m-5 p.m. and includes refreshments and door prizes.
“It’s going to be awesome,” said Sergeant. “I’m super excited.”
Sergeant, a 1992 Homer High School graduate, began studying hair design at the Jon Anthony Training Salon in Anchorage, moved to California for a time and then worked at Bumble and Bumble Salons in the Seattle area before returning to Alaska in 2005.
After working for another stylist, Sergeant bought that business and opened it as Halo Hair Design. She operated Halo for four years before moving to the Matanuska Susitna Valley area a year and a half ago. In the valley, Sergeant worked at Beehive Beauty Shop, made famous by cable network TLC as the place Sarah Palin had her hair done.
“That was definitely a fun experience. I had a blast,” said Sergeant. “It was probably one of the best salons I ever worked in.”
Now Sergeant is back on the southern Kenai Peninsula and bringing with her Organic Salon Systems’ professional organic salon products.
“I love the products,” said Sergeant. “They’re healthier and safer.”
Sergeant also is excited about carrying the “alaska chicks” line of clothing.
“We won’t have it right away, but it will be here by the holidays,” said Sergeant of the sweatshirts, hoodies, knitted headwraps and other apparel with the “alaska chicks” label.
In addition, clients will be able to special order their favorite hair styling products, brushes and flatirons.
“A complimentary combination,” said Smith, describing working with Sergeant. “We’ve talked for years about doing this.”
She ran Winter’s Cache for a year before family circumstances made it necessary to close. With an eye toward reopening one day, however, Smith kept her inventory of antiques and vintage items stored away.
“I had everything in hopes of opening up the shop again,” said Smith. “And now this is perfect.”
Helping keep her stocked with interesting and unique items are connections in the Lower 48.
“I have a friend in New York and one in Rhode Island who help shop for me,” said Smith. “They have really good taste and do everything from going to auctions to flea markets and shopping around for things I like. They’re pretty good about hitting it right on the head.”
If her friends are uncertain, they photograph items to send Smith.
“And I pick and choose what I want to put in the shop,” she said.
Most items are older than 50 years, some are even older. Mannequins dressed to fit the season show off apparel, jewelry and a selection of hats.
“The nice thing is that everything is going to be one-of-a-kind,” said Smith. “As things are sold, there are new things coming in. You can’t come back in a week and expect to find exactly the same thing.”
With the holidays around the corner, Smith’s offerings include items priced for the shopping budgets of young shoppers looking for gifts for parents.
Until the doors open Saturday, Sergeant and Smith are combining their interior decorating tastes. Sergeant is going for hot pink, black and gold. Smith favors black with burgundy, touches of vintage glass and even a vintage radio.
“It feels so nice,” said Sergeant of the space taking shape. “You definitely have to come in and check it out. It’ll be stunning.”
The only drawback Smith noted was the second
story location.
“A lot of people don’t do stairs, but they’re not that bad. It’s worth the trip up,” she said. “You look out the window and see the water, it’s cozy and dimly lit. And it smells nice.”
McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.
jackinsky@homernews.com.
