The Salon celebrating 10 years

RANGELY | In Rangely’s boom and bust cycle, longevity is something not all businesses are able to boast about, but thankfully for Lyndsey Wiley, owner of Rangely’s The Salon, no matter the price of oil and gas, hair continues to grow.
Wiley moved to Rangely with her family in high school, and like many Rangely youth was convinced she would not be staying. She graduated from RHS in 1998 and moved to Provo, Utah, to attend beauty school. Despite the declarations of her youth, Wiley immediately returned to Rangely where she was hired on as a stylist in the same salon she now owns. She then spent the next few years raising her young children and working at various salons around town, none of which seemed to stay in operation for very long.
Then, in 2003, Wiley’s longtime friend Deedra Halcomb purchased The Salon, in its current location. Three years later Wiley purchased the business from Halcomb. Since that time Wiley has regularly offered two to three stylists, depending on demand. While the third stylist has varied over the years the stylist behind the second chair has always been Wiley’s longtime friend Kayla Rose. Rose and Wiley began cutting hair together in 1999 when both were new to the industry.
Owning a business for more than a decade Wiley has learned a thing or two about maintaining success in Rangely’s economic climate. The key, she says, is good customer service which leads to loyal customers. “Our clientele is amazing. We always say, come as a client, leave as a friend, and I really mean that,” Wiley said. She also strives to keep pricing competitive, regularly checking salon prices in the Vernal and Grand Junction areas. “We are a little more than Walmart, but they’ll charge you for extras, like getting your hair shampooed.”
Another important aspect to keeping The Salon running has been offering a variety of services. In addition to hair they also offer gel nails and the popular eyelashes extensions. Two years ago Rose decided to attend the extensive training required to offer the tedious work which involves gluing individual eyelashes onto the existing lashes with surgical grade glue. “They have been very popular, especially for special events and vacations,” Wiley said.
As anyone who experienced the ’80s can tell you, hair fashion is constantly changing. Wiley believes it is essential that she and the other stylists stay on top of the latest techniques and fashions. “It is very important that we have continuing education,” Wiley said. With regular supplier sponsored trainings and annual hair shows both she and Rose keep up to speed. “It’s very exciting,” Wiley said.
Wiley acknowledges that owning a business in a small town can have its unique challenges. “If you make a mistake everyone knows about it. But we all make mistakes,” she said. However, when those bumps in the road happen, Wiley says she always tries to make it right.
But small towns have their benefits too. “We get to know the clients and come to care about them and their families.”
After more than 10 years as owner of The Salon and almost 20 years of cutting hair Wiley can’t imagine doing anything else. “I love my job. There’s not a day that I hate to come to work. How many people can say that?”