EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article was submitted by Gwen Zwicker as part of a monthly series profiling downtown businesses.
SACKVILLE, N.B. – Enthusiastic and passionate about what she does, Jeanne Chavarie, owner of Love is in the Hair, is a tiny dynamo with a huge smile.
Born and raised in Acadieville, Kent County, Jeanne says she told her mother early on she wanted to be a barber. Her mother said, “Oh, you mean a hairdresser,” and Jeanne replied “No, a barber.”
After that, her mother did not question her decision and that is exactly what Jeanne went on to do. Cutting hair was what she was most interested in learning. To this day, she feels the haircut is the foundation for all other hair services.
Jeanne is a licensed cosmetologist, has an extensive background in barbering and has had her instructor’s certificate since 2001.
“I never miss an opportunity to learn something new or enhance the skills I already have,” she says. “In fact, I will take another course in November.”
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She adds, “I have been in this business since 1981 but there is always so much more to learn. One of the things I’ve noticed with some hair stylists is that they haven’t kept current with techniques and this can lead to unhappy customers or unwanted damage to hair.”
Jeanne worked in a salon in Moncton from 1988 to 2006. She met her now-fiancé, Philip Sears, in 2000. At the time, Philip also worked in Moncton. The pair decided to move to Sackville and built a home here in 2006. Jeanne had taken a break from salon work from 2006 to 2015, when she joined a studio in Sackville.
“I got back in the business because I really missed it,” she said.
On Nov. 29, 2016, she opened Love is in the Hair. In her first month of business, she added 47 new clients. She says she attributed that to the fact that it was the Christmas season but she then added 20-plus new clients for each of January, February and March – and her business has not slowed down since.
“Love is in the Hair is a perfect name for my salon,” she says. “I love what I do and I have not had any regrets. Making people happy makes me happy and it makes me feel good when they feel good about themselves.”
She currently does basic colours and haircare for both men and women. She does not do chemical processes. In addition, she offers quality professional products, primarily Redken and Matrix – but would be happy to source other products if there is something customers would like. She would like to find a second person able to do the complete chemical services, i.e. colouring, perms etc.
And what about that mural on the wall behind her desk? She said it was already there when she took over the space from a former yoga studio and was done by Darren Bavis. She feels the way the colours flow reflect someone coming in for a hair styling and feeling better when they leave.
Have there been challenges along the way? Jeanne says, “Not really.” One thing that concerns her, however, is accessibility to her salon. There are a couple of steps into the building and this presents a challenge to customers with mobility issues. Other than that, she says the town does a good job of maintaining the streets and sidewalks and has been very good to her when she’s had questions.
“I love Sackville. It’s not a big town but there’s always so much going on,” says Jeanne
She and Philip intend to live here for as long as possible.
Love is in the Hair is located at 78 Main St., Sackville. Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday noon to 7 p.m. Contact Jeanne at 506-536-2200 or [email protected].
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