Listen Live
BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – When salon owner Casey Jones first stepped into Bellingham’s historic Daylight Building, she said the space felt just right.
She knew it had long been used as a hair salon but had not previously ventured inside. Since deciding to lease it out last summer, she is still settling in by putting her own touches into the historic space which was newly named Salon Indigo Rose.
Jones has lived in Whatcom County since the age of 12, with the exception of living in California and New Zealand for a chunk of time. She found that in her time living away from Whatcom County, Jones found herself talking about Bellingham. With this new space in the heart of downtown Bellingham, she gets to be in the center point of her community.
Jones found her calling at an early age; her mom was a hairstylist, and she knew that she wanted to follow the same path by the age of six. After finishing high school, she was quickly enrolled in beauty school, graduating in 1999. She now has 27 years of working with hair under her belt, and has worked in five other salons including The Velvet Rope in Bellingham where she worked for nine years.
The new location in downtown Bellingham is making Jones the busiest she has ever been in her career. Customers from Blaine, Ferndale, Sumas and even people driving all the way from Seattle are having Jones cut their hair.
“I’m very much a people person; I love meeting people and making them feel comfortable in my chair. I want to have an inclusive space for people and [make] everyone to feel like they’re welcome.” – Casey Jones
Having long lived in Whatcom County means clients are sometimes referred to Jones through an old coworker, friend or simply someone who knows her—which she says is “so Bellingham.” She shared that being a business owner and resident means going to local events, always running into people and enjoying every minute of being from a small town.
In her profession, she values giving someone the hair they maybe didn’t even know they wanted, sometimes through asking the same five questions or other times by listening to their life story. Jones looks to build trust with clients and make them feel just as comfortable as people she has been seeing for over a decade.
Jones hopes to not only make clients feel welcome but open her doors to new and experienced hairdressers. She hopes to mentor hair stylists at the beauty college through Salon Indigo Rose and has four chairs available to be rented. The spots are open to interested hairdressers or a barber who would enjoy working at the salon.
She explained that being in the hair industry before the internet could be toxic at times. She felt as though people held their training and experience close to their hearts, often in fear of others stealing their ideas or experiences. However, Jones expressed that there has been an ongoing evolution in the hairdressing world in the way that stylists share new ideas, techniques and training more openly.
“I’ve got 20 more years of career left in me for hairdressing and this segment will be giving back [through] mentoring and training,” Jones said.
As her career continues to take off, the hairstylist is determined to continue being both professional and personable. Outside of her professional life, Jones is just as busy. When she is not cutting hair, she is fully booked as a single mom. Her four-year-old daughter is her world and through her work, she hopes to build a life for the two of them.
Salon Indigo Rose looks to make the most of its historic location and develop its team going into this year with Jones at the lead. A master esthetician is the newest addition to the space and occupies the upper loft portion of the building. Four chairs at the salon remain available and are currently open to interested applicants.
“In an uncertain world right now where costs seem to continue to rise, I will maintain a service of high-end hairdressing without high-end pricing,” Jones said.
Clients can book an online appointment at Salon Indigo Rose or reach out to Jones via Instagram.
We are Whatcom is a weekly column featuring Whatcom County residents making a positive impact on the community. To submit a Whatcom County resident to be featured, click here.