MOUNT VERNON — For two veteran stylists, the chance to open their own salon in downtown Mount Vernon was an opportunity they couldn’t let pass by them.
Co-owners Jennifer Ellis and Trish Holcomb and esthetician Mollie West celebrated almost two months at their location on West Ohio Avenue with a ribbon cutting Tuesday afternoon. Nestled to the side of Paragraphs Bookstore, Ellis and Holcomb took advantage of some prime downtown real estate to open Fringe Salon & Spa.
“We saw that the opportunity was open and we thought this was a great location,” said Ellis, who has 16 years of experience as a stylist. “We were both ready for a new start and just furthering our careers.”
Fringe officially opened on Oct. 1 after a week-long remodeling project.
“We love the downtown area, especially since it’s up and going now, like they’re doing so much new stuff. It’s also fun being downtown,” added Holcomb, who brings 30 years of experience to the job. “Everybody tells us it (the salon) looks like it should be in Westerville so we’re real excited about that.”
Holcomb believed similar work ethics between herself and co-owner Ellis will bode well for the future of Fringe.
“Family is number one in both of our makeup. Family comes first,” Holcomb said. “And now we (have) kind of become family.”
Fringe offers the typical salon services, from a haircut, blow dry, and coloring to gel nails, pedicures, and facials. That’s where West comes in.
“I am all about skin so I make my own products,” West explained. “Lotions, soaps, but I also make everything I use in every one of my services.”
One of the services West offers is dermaplaning, which is an exfoliating process that uses a scalpel to take off the top layers of skin to get immediate results. West said it helps even skin tone, takes off the top layer of peach fuzz, and gives her customers a glowing complexion.
West’s services aren’t only about beauty. She also does body treatments for athletes that includes a full salt scrub to help detoxify the body and a magnesium-infused lotion.
“It’s not just walking out and feeling good,” West believed. “You know how you walk out and have that wonderful feeling after a haircut? I want you to take that home for at least a month and then when you come back we’ll keep the maintenance going.
“It’s not just about walking out and feeling good, but it’s feeling good for an extended period of time and taking care of yourself after that,” West said.
Though Fringe’s hours vary, the salon is typically open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Ellis and Holcomb may take a few walk-ins, but the majority of their business will be done by appointment. Those can be made by calling 740-627-0150. Fringe Salon & Spa is located at 5 W. Ohio Ave., Mount Vernon. More information about the business can be found on Facebook at Fringe Salon & Spa.
West’s services are available by appointment. She can be reached at 740-507-5220 or at skinsensebymollie@gmail.com. West can also be found on Facebook at Skin Sense by Mollie, Advanced Esthetician.
