Port People Week 15: Elaine Devereaux of Salon Bellisimo and Barbershop
By Courtney Ryan, Marketing Intern
Recently, I visited Elaine Devereaux, the owner of Salon Bellisimo and Barbershop. Below is the interview for the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce’s #portpeople campaign which is a weekly profile of members of the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry!
Courtney: How long have you owned Salon Bellisimo and Barbershop? Have you always been a hairdresser/barber, and why did you want to become one?
Elaine: I have had this shop for five years, but I have been a barber for 38 years. When I was young I loved playing with family members’ hair, so I have wanted to be a barber since I was 7 years old. I started with Salon Bellisimo as just a salon, but then I later added the barbershop.
Courtney: What brought you to Newburyport?
Elaine: In 1998 I started working for a barbershop in town, but I always wanted to have my own. In 1997, I moved to the United States from Ireland, and I was lucky to become a citizen in 2011. I still have 3 grandchildren in Ireland who I am excited to have visit Newburyport once they are a little bit older. I visit Ireland twice a year but love coming back to work after my visits because my co-workers and clients are my second family!
Courtney: Aside from hair, what other services do you offer?
Elaine: We specialize in hair and offer services including cuts, coloring, styling, and extensions. We also offer waxing, and a massage therapist comes into the salon on an appointment based schedule. Our clients are all ages – we see people from infants to elders and love when multi-generational families visit the salon. Visit our website to see the full range of services we offer!
Courtney: What is your favorite service to provide, and what excites you most about your work?
Elaine: I love having customers that are fun and enjoy joking around with me. It is fun to find a playful flow that makes my work so much more rewarding.
Courtney: What is unique about your salon?
Elaine: Most salons are either a salon or a barbershop, but we are proud to be licensed and offer both! We are equally as popular for our salon services as we are for our barber services. In our salon, we have 5 stylists that work on appointment based schedules. However, our barbershop is walk-in and we have 2 barbers on site. We are also very flexible and base our hours on our clients’ schedules. We want to find a time that works for you!
Courtney: What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Elaine: I am most proud that I get to own my own shop because I truly thought this would never be possible for me. I have worked so hard for many years and saved lots of money to make this possible.
Courtney: In your free time, what do you like to do? What is your favorite thing to do in Newburyport?
Elaine: I love how many outside dining spots Greater Newburyport has to offer, and The Deck is one of my favorites. I spend a lot of time at the salon because I want to be constantly available for my clients, so I don’t have too much free time to explore the area. I am also getting a new puppy soon, which I am so excited about!
Courtney: What products do you use?
Elaine: We are proud to use animal cruelty-free products. We use 11 Australia products which appeal to everyone, and for men we like to use American Crew products which are alcohol free.
Courtney: Are there any new trends that you’ve been enjoying lately?
Elaine: There are lots of fun trends right now! A lot of people have been getting extensions or tinsel tied into their hair which are fun ways to experiment and try a new look. I love to see seasonal changes in people’s hair, and it is fun to see people try things like bright colors.
Courtney: What advice would you give to men and women on maintaining self-confidence?
Elaine: Everyone is beautiful in their own way. You have to exploit that and just be confident in yourself!
Courtney: What goals do you have for the future of the salon?
Elaine: My main goal is simple – keep it open! I like to keep my salon small and intimate, allowing myself to put my all into one place. I am definitely here to stay and love being a business owner in Newburyport!
To learn more about Salon Bellisimo and Barbershop, click here to visit their website.