The Hair Gallery stays on the cutting edge

By Don Carswell
Sparta — Sparta residents know that there are dozens of places to get their hair styled in the township. With plenty of competition, staying in business and growing for ten years is no small feat. The Hair Gallery at 53 Sparta Avenue has just passed this milestone.
Elena Fierro of Ogdensburg, who owns The Hair Gallery along with her husband John, modestly deflects the credit for this achievement to her staff of nine, who she considers the best in the business. “In the last ten years we’ve only lost two stylists, and that’s only because both of them moved out of state,” says Fierro. “The good mix of stylists means that there is someone for everyone,” she notes, and her employees, along with her many longtime customers, have become “like an extended family.”
Prior to starting The Hair Gallery, Fierro worked at a local salon that is no longer in business. An experienced stylist herself who received her training at the Capri Institute in North Haledon, Fierro realized that she could do better on her own. “The kids went back to school, so I decided to give it a shot,” she says. That shot seems to have hit the bullseye, as her salon now offers haircutting, coloring, waxing and nail care to women, men and children, and is the only Keratin Complex signature salon in Sussex County. Keratin Complex is a brand of hair color and styling products that works to replenish the keratin in the hair.
Keeping a happy clientele means training is never done. “At least once a year, several of the stylists go to the Keratin Complex Academy in Boca Raton, Florida, for training, “says Fierro. “Some also go to the Depasquale Education Center in Fair Lawn, where they learn new cutting techniques, among other things.”
Success didn’t come without a lot of work, especially in the beginning. The Fierros acquired an old tile warehouse that needed a lot of renovation prior to opening. As the business grew, they were able to break out the wall and add a new room. It is now difficult to imagine that the immaculate and orderly salon was ever anything else.
Ten years have gone by quickly. “I’m totally happy,” beams Fierro. “I’m in a good place, and I love my staff and customers.”
The Hair Gallery will be having a Customer Appreciation Night on Friday, November 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. They will be offering a complimentary blowout including a reparative conditioning treatment or a mini-manicure. Refreshments will be served, and existing clients bringing a friend will receive a special gift.
For more information including business hours and pricing, see The Hair Gallery’s website at www.thehairgallerysparta.com .