Business of the Week: House for Hair, Thornwood
By Colette Connolly
Take a peak into the newly opened House for Hair in Thornwood and you’ll discover this brightly lit salon has a trendy, up-to-date look that is distinctly European in flavor.
Once you meet top stylist and proprietor Ingeborg Hollander, who previously ran a high-end hair salon in her native Netherlands, it comes as no surprise that she would want to duplicate that same European feel in her latest business venture.
Hollander, who has more than 20 years of experience in advanced hair care and cutting techniques, came to the United States three years ago. This cheerful lady is eager to get her new business, which opened on August 18 at 852 Commerce St., every bit as successful as her former shop where she catered to the well-to-do, including some of Holland’s best known celebrities.
When she arrived in the States, setting up another hair salon was not her first priority. After acquiring the necessary licenses to practice as a stylist in New York State, Hollander worked out of a salon in Astoria, Queens where she lived at the time.
“It was a great place for me to start and to get used to a different clientele, but I still wanted to have my own place again, and I knew that I didn’t want to open a salon in New York City,” Hollander said.
Instead, she and her husband, Matthieu, and nine-year-old stepson, Sidney, settled on Westchester, moving into a house in North White Plains. She then searched for the right spot to establish her salon. The name, House for Hair, was the same one she used in the Netherlands. But the color scheme is different, an attempt to create a “different vibe,” she said.
Taking after her mother, who was also a stylist, Hollander said it’s a career she has always aspired to.
“I knew what my path was and I did it,” she said.
In addition to running her own salon in her native country, Hollander also operated a salon for a major cruise line for three seasons.
“I think what sets me apart is the fact that I can listen to my clients, but I can also give honest advice, too,” noted Hollander, who said creating trustworthy relationships with customers is important to her. “I really love to connect with my clients, but it’s important to me that we are both honest with each other.”
Hollander is well aware of the fast-paced society she’s finds herself in and hopes that House for Hair can provide a respite from the harried lifestyles that many Westchester residents are living these days. She’ll often offer a cup of tea or coffee to her customers to make them feel more at home. She acknowledged customers are sometimes taken aback by the offer, which is a regular custom in many European salons.
Hollander is, however, adamant about providing the most pleasant experience she can. “People live fast here,” she said. “The most I can do is give them a tiny bit of time to relax.”
House for Hair offers a full range of services, including hair cutting, hair color and highlights, perms, hair extensions using the popular “Fine Featherheads” brand, up-dos, a bridal service and much more. Schedule your first visit and get 25 percent off any hair treatment (excludes the Featherheads extensions). Call 914-747-0077 or e-mail info@houseforhair.com to make an appointment. Visit www.houseforhair.com for more information.
Colette Connolly is a copywriter and p.r. expert. She owns Connolly Communications, which is based in Bronxville, New York. Colette specializes in providing content-rich, SEO-optimized press releases, articles, newsletters, brochures, and customer success stories.