New opportunity for hair care in Meeker

MEEKER |  “Julia’s” is a new opportunity to look at hair care in a different perspective, taking the client back to the basics of scalp therapy. After Covid-19 became a life changer for everyone, for Julia Haines a life-threatening illness was a life challenge switch in her career. 

Battling lingering long-Covid issues, Haines sold her Hair Hut Salon to current owner Michael Jackson. 

“I was a guest speaker at CNCC [Colorado Northwestern Community College] to the cosmetology students where I had worked before moving to Meeker. Michael was a student at that time and came to me within the week after class and purchased the salon. Talk about being driven by his passion!” Haines said. 

After working briefly for Farm Bureau and Elk Creek Ranch as a server and front of the house manager through the spring of 2023, another health scare put her back in the hospital.

“This time my body was full of inflammation and causing heart issues,” she said. 

In December 2023 more issues arose, including hair loss due to illness. 

She took this as an opportunity to heal and found a new approach to hair care, something she’d known and taught through her years as an instructor at CNCC. She reviewed her knowledge of trichology — the study of the structure, function, diseases and treatment of the scalp — which then affects the hair.

“We treat the hair and forget that our scalp needs cared for as well,” Haines said.

She decided to open a studio to offer scalp therapy, also known as “scalp facials.” The scalp needs to be nourished and blood flow restored. Scalp massage can improve blood flow, scalp condition and improve hair health and growth. The benefits extend into stress relief and overall better mental health.

“The best part of your experience in a salon is getting your hair washed, so that is what I went back to: my focus of simple scalp therapy. Little did I know that ‘Head Spas’ are gaining a foothold in the United States,” she said. The practice has existed for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, as hair is linked to the nervous system and the gut. 

An appointment begins with a consultation about the client’s hair and scalp concerns, such as thinning, oiliness and itching. Rapid hair thinning can be a side effect of chemotherapy, anesthesia, postpartum, thyroid problems, Covid-19, and psoriasis, among other causes. 

Haines has chosen Surface Awaken — a drug-free, chemical-free professional product line — for her clients. Treatments include oils and charcoal masques to detoxify the scalp, heated towels to open the scalp’s pores, massage and more. 

Through her own experience, Haines has found a new way to help improve the health of hair.

“My focus now, after giving up the chemical treatments, is to help with the loss of hair and other hair-related concerns.”

Julia’s is located at 685 Main Street, Studio 2A, offering a holistic wellness-oriented approach to a salon visit with all-natural products and treatments, scalp and skin health, and overall well-being. A tanning bed with new bulbs is also available, with a $50/month fall special. 

Call or text for an appointment: 970-260-6606.

“The health of the hair is a reflection of the scalp.” A health crisis sent stylist Julia Haines searching for a solution to hair loss after illness, and inspired her to bring chemical- and drug-free hair care and scalp therapy to Meeker.   Niki Turner Photo