Business & Tech

When Vanity is a Private Affair

Natasha Watterson, owner of Vanity Hair Studio NYC, offers her clients a mix of privacy, Rx and TLC

Natasha Watterson today celebrated the one-month anniversary of her new business, Vanity Hair Studio NYC, located at 325 Nostrand Avenue, between Quincy St. and Lexington Ave.

Hair salons come a dime a dozen in Bed-Stuy. So what makes this one so special? Vanity's clients are treated in the privacy of their own closed station.

“I specialize in treating African-American women who have natural hair,” said Watterson. “But I also have a large clientele of women who suffer from alopecia; some are going through chemotherapy, or they may be experiencing hair loss from [menopause].”

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“For a lot of them, just taking off their hat is a process… And so I wanted to open a salon that provided total privacy and individualized attention.”

The tiny salon looks like day-spa-meets-doctor’s-office, with five, private rooms, each 53 inches wide and about 7 feet long, including a shampoo room, a drying room (with a flat-screen television), two styling booths and a vanity closet (equipped with purses, hair accessories, earrings, body butters and other feel- and smell-good items for sale).

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The new business is a bold step for Watterson, as it’s a huge departure from what she did professionally in the early part of her career.

“I did the traditional thing: I went to school, got a great job, got a great title, and got a great salary,” said Watterson, who grew up in Prospect Heights and currently is a Crown Heights resident. “But it gets to a point where you’re on call 24 hours, you’re on the computer all night after you come home from work. Before you know it, you become your job: You haven’t been to the movies in a year and then you don’t know what your daughter’s homework looks like anymore.”

Natasha could sense the job market instability, and so quickly got certified in cosmetology so she would have a trade skill as a backup. Then she went on to get her master’s degree, and started work as a director of a women’s shelter. But while working as a shelter director, she styled hair on the side for extra money and soon noticed a growing clientele of women who struggled with damaged hair and female pattern baldness but were too shy and/or embarrased to address it in an open setting.

So Watterson decided to make a career move and go into the hair care and maintenance business full-time, setting her business apart by targeting a client base that was most neglected.

“I researched like crazy,” said Watterson. “I also took finance classes; I took marketing classes, writing classes with CAMBA, St. Nicks Alliance, the SBA, whoever offered classes in NYC, they know who I am. This has been a huge transition for me. But I’m happier.”

Watterson prides her salon in carrying only the top-of-the-line hair care products that meet the specific needs of virtually every hair texture for women of color. She said most of her favorite products are not even carried over-the-counter.

“This is the thing: If you use inferior products on your clients’ hair, then they leave and use those same inferior products, and it starts to compromise the integrity of the hair,” said Watterson, pointing out it reflects bad on the job she is doing. “So I tell all of my clients what I’m using on their hair. Everyone will know what relaxers, what shampoos, what pomades I use.”

On Mondays at Vanity, seniors get 75 percent off of all services. And on Tuesdays, from 9:00 a.m. -12:00 noon, patrons on unemployment can get any service for a flat fee of $40.

“Because I’ve worked in social services, I know that seniors live on a fixed income. And also, when you’re looking for a job, you just don’t look right, and you don’t have money. So I offer these services. And it’s a fixed promotion. It’s not going to change next year!

“I think we’re going to do well,” said Watterson. “So far, I’ve gotten positive feedback and already, a few return customers. And I’m happy about it. I am.”

To see a virtual tour of the salon, go here. For more information or to make an appointment, call 718-218-5691 or 929-210-9411.


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