There’s a new hair salon on Main Street. E’s Cut & Style opened less than three weeks ago and owner Eulicio Mendes, 37, said business is already booming.
Located at 64 Main St., E’s Cut & Style offers hairstyling for everyone.
Mendes, who previously worked at Scissors on Bridge Street for six years, took time Tuesday to talk about his new business with the Valley Independent Sentinel.
Valley Independent Sentinel: What made you want to start your own hair salon?
Eulicio Mendes: Well, when you get older, you just want to just balance your money better. And, all my customers kept pounding the idea into my head. Plus, I have two kids I have to support. I’m an independent father.
Valley Indy: Is this your first time owning a salon?
Mendes: Well, I had two of my own places when I first graduated from school. Both were barber shops, but I still did women’s hair at them too. As far as a real salon, this is my first one. I’m going to try to stick to this one.
Valley Indy: How old where you when you had your first place?
Mendes: I think I was 22 or 23.
Valley Indy: Where did you go to school?
Mendes: I went to the National Academy of Hairdressing, which used to be on Main Street.
Valley Indy: How did you get interested in hairstyling?
Mendes: One day when I was little, my mom took us to a barber shop to get our hair cut, but he didn’t do a good job. Shortly after, one of my friends found a pair of clippers and I ended up keeping them and started doing my friends’ and my brothers’ hair. After that, I’d practice with different kids and when I started charging five dollars, I saw the money coming in and thought, ‘I could make a living off of this.’
Valley Indy: What kind of services do you offer?
Mendes: I don’t have time to do hair coloring. Right now, I’m sticking to waxing, conditioning treatments, wash and cuts, and some straightening.
Valley Indy: What’s the weirdest hairstyle request you’ve gotten?
Mendes: A faux hawk for a woman.
Valley Indy: What’s a faux hawk?
Mendes: That’s a new style. It’s like a mohawk, but with a lot of hair on the sides. The top is a little longer than the side and then it’s blownout to look like a mohawk.
Valley Indy: What do you like most about being a hairstylist?
Mendes: I can make good friends and make a good living. I also like helping people out with their problems. A lot of people listen to my advice and I’m sure I’ve saved some kids from doing bad activities and getting hurt.
Valley Indy: Is there anything about the job you dislike?
Mendes: Standing up all the time. I’m 6’5” and I have a bad knee. Also, getting hair on me. I hate that.
Valley Indy: Do you like styling men or women’s hair more?
Mendes: I get into styling guy’s hair more because you can do a lot of designs with their hair. There’s a million types of styles for guy’s haircuts that people don’t realize, but I love changing up women’s hair too. It makes me feel good that I can change a woman’s mind, and I’ve gotten no complaints from women.
Valley Indy: Who’s easier to work with: Men or women?
Mendes: Guys are more picky. Women can be picky too but once they get comfortable with you, you have their trust and they’re cool.