Ladies, you don’t have to drive to Grand Forks any more if you want to have your beauty needs looked after by Chris Hoefling-Esselink. She’s been providing services every Wednesday at Shear and File Hair and Nail Bar in Greenwood since May.
Chris is a licensed cosmetologist and certified nail technician offering a wide variety of salon services. Hair styling for both men and women; and for the ladies she does artificial nails, facial waxing, manicure and pedicure.
Her Greenwood hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. “That way clients who are working can still get in after work to get their hair done,” she says. “A lot of people would rather do an evening appointment than one on a Saturday.”
The rest of the week Chris runs her own salon in Grand Forks, Oasis Hair and Nail Studio.
She’s been offering her services full-time for 14 years now, though she took her first class right after getting out of high school in Midway. She went back to school in 1998 to recertify her license and has been working ever since.
The first three years she worked in a home salon, then she opened Oasis Hair and Nail Studio in 2002 and she now owns the building.
She said that it took patience to finally find a part-time nail course, but eventually there was one in Kelowna in 2009. Today she is studying for her nail educator certification.
She and her husband Sid live in Grand Forks but they hope to eventually make their way to Greenwood. “We’ve been back and forth for years,” she explained. “My dad lives here and I went to high school in Midway. This is home for me.”
She opened Shear and File Hair and Nail Bar after a few of her Greenwood customers kept bugging her to open a shop here. “After failing to find a good start-up place I eventually told them if you want me there, you find me the place.”
Well, they did! When the laundromat closed earlier this year Chris got a phone call offering her the location.
Chris is a firm believer in keeping up with the latest developments in the industry. “I was a color educator for JOICO for two years and worked as a colourist behind the scene at their hair shows.”
Her rates are competitive and she guarantees her work.
She and Sid have been married for 33 years and have two grown children. Their daughter is a third generation hairdresser.
She enjoys the Greenwood shop for the opportunity to connect with friends both old and new.
“Hair styles today are all about personality,” says Chris. “If you want to try something new, something you – then come on down and give it a try.”
To make an appointment you can reach Chris at 250-442-6343.