Publications
Featured in North Carolina Signature Magazine
Cutting Edge
Think chic salons can only be found in the toniest of urban neighborhoods? Think again.
There are only twelve hair salons in the world certified in the renown Ouidad cut and style method developed especially for curly hair. As you might imagine, four of them can be found in and around New York. What you might not guess is that one of them is located in a one hundred and thirty year old Pineville, North Carolina mansion. Blis Salon welcomes guests to this beautiful landmark on Main Street, where modern processes and amazing aesthetics combine for a distinctive customer experience
Positioned almost as a welcome center for the quaint, old fashioned, Pineville downtown, Blis is impossible to miss. Beckoning patrons to its front door with the opportunity to step back in time, the building is steeped in local history. First constructed as a private home in 1873 and later sold to one of Pineville’s most well known doctors; the building was used as his office and a mini hospital, where over the years hundreds of babies were born. For all its history and traditional beauty, its current activities are decidedly contemporary. Owners Nick and Jennifer Godfrey have created a salon and spa with the most up to date services and highly trained practitioners.
Certified by the "Queen of Curl"
Only a handful of beauty professionals in the country have been asked to partner with, Ouidad, known as the "Queen of Curl," and Blis is one of them, sending stylists to be trained in her New York salon. The Ouidad method of cutting, styling and caring for curly hair has been heralded since its beginnings in 1982. Company founder and stylist, Ouidad trademarked her signature haircutting techniques, designed to address the special needs of curly hair. The training process for stylists is intense and rigorous, with a two day in-salon workshop in New York and a required six months to a year apprentice period.
Jennifer had her own initial training as a newly hired stylist at Blis, excited about the educational opportunity and a trip to New York. Little did she know there would be no time for fun on this visit. She says, "It was difficult and intense and turned everything I had learned in ten years of cutting hair upside down. The first haircut felt so wrong. Yet, once I thought about it, it was so simple and made perfect sense."
The trip would ultimately turn into a long and fruitful partnership as Jennifer and husband Nick soon bought the salon. Though not a curly haired girl herself, Jennifer finds working with the Ouidad customers very rewarding. Often, these clients have spent years fighting with their hair, trying all kinds of haircuts and products and hearing stylists say they know what to do with curly hair, only to find the same problems. "I know this," laughs Jennifer, "because I was one of those stylists!"
A destination salon
Loyal clients are the best indicator of success. "I have regular clients from Asheville, Burlington, Durham, Wilmington and many areas in the southeast," says Jennifer. Two customers from London and a client from Japan have also made the journey. As I met Jennifer for our interview, we were interrupted by a customer in Kentucky, calling to plead with her to explain the Ouidad concept to her hometown stylist over the phone. "They don’t understand the process," she says throwing up her hands, "it isn’t something you can learn on a phone call." Ouidad is extremely selective when it comes to her certified salons; Jennifer will take another trip to New York this year to stay current on the latest information and techniques.
But Blis is more than just a curly haired haven. Many clients without a ringlet in sight come for the expertise and style offered in this full service salon and spa. With six hair stylists, massage therapy, facials, body wraps, and nail services to offer, Jennifer estimates that only about forty percent of the clients are Ouidad customers.
Blending old and new
Jennifer and Nick are partners in the salon and in life. Nick handles many of the business aspects of salon ownership so that Jennifer can continue as a stylist. It has been a busy year for the duo as they welcomed a new baby, Gibson, and finished a huge renovation of the salon. Nick and his father did most of the work themselves, and modeled the styling area after the Ouidad flagship salon. Beautiful, old, wooden floors and luxurious, welcoming décor blend seamlessly with the most modern tools of the trade. The unforgettable character and history of the building still remains, providing an exceptional salon experience. This exciting mixture of old and new leaves customers from far and wide continuing to find "Blis" again and again.
