THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 24, 1997 TAG: 9701220116
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER C. O'DONNELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 66 lines
Transplanted New Yorkers, James and Susan Seminara, hope their new small business, Headgames, will soon become a staple of the Western Branch business community.
Headgames, a full-service hair salon, may be new on the scene in Chesapeake's Churchland Square Shopping Center, but the business itself is not new to Susan.
``My wife has over 30 years experience in hair styling,'' said James Seminara, co-owner of the business and the store's account manager.
The couple moved to Suffolk last summer after enduring one too many New York winters. James is a retired lieutenant from the New York Police Force and Susan worked at the same Westchester beauty salon for 27 years.
``Most of my customers stayed with me for all those 27 years,'' Susan Seminara. ``They only left when they died or moved away.''
It's that sort of long-term commitment she hopes to have with her new clientele at Headgames.
``I'm here for the long haul,'' she said.
In order to better serve her customers, Susan casually quizzes them on their likes and dislikes and tries to get an idea of their lifestyle before she even picks up the scissors.
``Most of the time people know what they want, but sometimes you have to work at it to get them to talk about it,'' she said.
The Seminara's rented their 900 square-foot salon last November after a local hair styling chain closed the shop early last year. Although they hope to add three or four more stylists to their complement, they aren't in any rush.
``We'll hire new stylists when we find the right people,'' Susan Seminara said.
Susan added that customers in Hampton Roads are a bit different from her former New York patrons.
``People are really friendly and nice here,'' she said. ``. . . and they are more likely to accept mediocre hair styling.''
Still, to make sure her customers leave the store happy, she offers a guarantee.
``We'll work with customers until they're satisfied,'' James Seminara piped in.
The Seminaras said Headgames is a full-service salon that will accommodate customers looking for basic cuts to complicated perms or coloring requests. But the couple has no plans to jump on the trend toward manicure/pedicure stations.
``I think that's been overdone,'' Susan Seminara said. ``And some of the chemicals they use for wraps and tips are really potent. I just want to focus on hair.''
Susan added that her specialty, of sorts, is styling and cutting long hair, and although she doesn't know exactly what hairstyles will be popular this year, she's confident that the styles will borrow on those of past decades.
``Everything is coming back,'' she said. ``We'll probably see some styles that are roller set this year.'' MEMO: Headgames is closed Sunday and Monday and although reservations
are recommended, walk-ins are welcome. Current prices for haircuts begin
at $7.95. Perms are $26.95. Basic hair coloring and cap frostings cost
$9.95 and $29.95, respectively. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
James and Susan Seminara moved from New York to Suffolk last summer
and recently opened Headgames salon in Churchland Square Shopping
Center. Susan is the stylist and James the store's account manager.