Shear Image Expands With The Help Of Family And Friends

By Kaaren Valenta

When Beverly Watkins became a hair stylist in the 1970s, beauticians — as they were then called — could not cut men’s hair.

“It was against the law. Only barbers could cut men’s hair,” Ms Watkins recalled. “And even when the law was changed, you could only cut men’s hair if there were separate bathrooms for men and women [in the salon].”

Times have changed in the decades since then. Men and women are just as likely to be clients at Shear Image, the hair salon that Beverly Watkins and her sister, Ann Watkins, have operated in the Village Shopping Center at 43 South Main Street for nearly eight years.

With a staff of eight and a rapidly growing clientele, the salon had begun to need more room. So when the space next to their hair salon became available last spring, the two sisters decided the time was right for a major expansion and renovation project. Jean Watkins, their cousin by marriage, had moved her business, Wendy’s Nails, to another location in the plaza, and turned it into Indulgence, the UnSpa, leaving just the space that Shear Image needed.

Shear Image remained open as walls were moved; new workstations, lights, sinks, floors, a new bathroom, and ceilings were installed, and the entire salon was painted and redecorated.

“We never closed — we worked through the renovations,” Ann Watkins said. “The stylists and clients have been very patient. We did close on Sundays, however, because that was our day to work. Now we’re open on Sunday again.”

The project was a labor of love for the two women and their friends. Eugenia Neto Monte, a decorator who lives in Danbury, picked the colors. “She mixed the taupe paint color for the walls and created the faux finish for the reception area,” Ann said. “She is fantastic. It was her idea to have the waterfall in the reception room.”

Steve Falci, Ann’s boyfriend Steve Altieri, and his friend Matt Carloni did a lot of the work. Jim Grisko, the son of stylist Lucy Grisko, laid the ceramic tile. Ray Schettino, whose wife and daughter both had been stylists at the salon, did the sheetrocking. A grand opening celebration is scheduled for January, when new services, including a Japanese process hair straightening, are introduced.

“We have three stylists that are certified to do this procedure,” Ann said. “It takes five hours to do the straightening but it lasts a year.”

The Watkins family has lived for generations in Sandy Hook. Ruth Watkins, who died nearly ten years ago, was the matriarch of the family and very active in the United Methodist Church. Her son, Tom Watkins, got the equipment to move the church when it was transported across Church Hill Road to its current location.

Beverly grew up on Pond Brook Road and was just 3 years old when her father, Chet Blanchard, died. A few years later her mother married Tom Watkins. Eventually there were five children in the family: Beverly, her older brother Skip, Laurel, Tom Jr, and Ann, who was born ten years after Tom Jr.

Beverly was a student at Post University in Waterbury when Ann was born.

“They announced over the speaker that I had a baby sister — I was mortified,” Beverly said, laughing at the memory.

She only stayed at Post for her freshman year, leaving to fulfill her dream of becoming a beautician.

 “I only went to college because Dad insisted. He bribed me with a sports car. When I quit to become a hair dresser, he was so mad that he took the car away.”

Beverly trained at the former Danbury Beauty School, studied at Paul Mitchell in New York, and became a district manager for Command Performances, a chain of salons that began locally and grew into 500 by the time she left the company.

“I opened the first Command Performance,” she said. “I trained the manager and owners at the stores in Westport, Brookfield, Yorktown Heights, New York, and Rocky Springs, Wyoming.”

When Ann was just 9 years old, their mother died in an automobile accident.

“Ann came to live with me, but I was working too many hours, so I decided to quit,” Beverly said. “I wasn’t going to open a shop, but the boss at the Brookfield salon fired three stylists, so they called me up and I needed a place to work.”

Beverly opened The Mane Event in Danbury, eventually expanding the staff to 18 stylists. Ann started working as a receptionist there when she was just 13.

“I destroyed all the mannequins, which cost about $60 apiece,” Ann said. “They were there for the stylists to practice on. They would let me cut, color, and shave the mannequins, so when Beverly would find them, they would be left with about two inches of purple and pink hair.”

Beverly was a loving but strict guardian, making sure that Ann did her homework and stayed out of trouble.

“She wouldn’t let me color my hair until I was 18,” Ann said. “On my 18th birthday I colored my red hair blonde and it has been blonde ever since.”

Beverly wanted her sister to go to college, but Ann wanted to be a hair stylist.

“I told her to ask her father — remembering how mad he got at me — but he said it was a wonderful idea!” Beverly recalled.

When the Sand Hill Plaza was built in Newtown, Beverly opened Cuts Plus in the minimall there. She later sold the business, and in 1998 opened Shear Image with her sister. Ann had attended Abbott Tech High School, graduating with the award as the most talented hairstylist, and also later trained at Paul Mitchell. She is now attending college part-time to get a degree, so that she can teach hair dressing in state schools, and is studying Spanish in Newtown Continuing Education.

“I was destined to do this,” Ann said. “I’m named after an aunt, Anna Lou Watkins Goodwin, who taught hair dressing for 30 years in state schools in New Jersey. She retired recently and runs a spa.”

Besides Beverly and Ann, the staff at Shear Image includes Jennifer Gill, Tracey Rajcula, Lucy Grisko, Lisa Loeser, Carol Kaimer (the sister of Jean Watkins), Mary Vazzano, and receptionist Danielle Tenk.

Shear Image offers a complete range of services and uses two top color lines: Goldwell and Igora Royal. A large selection of products from the companies are available at the shop. Cuts are $30–$35 for women, $20 for men; color is $70 including cut. Blow-drying and styling is included. A new line of permanents allows a perm and coloring to be done on the same day. The salon accommodates bridal parties, and on her day off, Beverly Watkins also does the hair of shut-ins in their homes.

The shop is open Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 8 pm; Friday until 7; Saturday from 8 to 3, and Sunday from noon to 4. There is a ten percent discount for persons 65 and older every day of the week. For appointments, call 270-3918.