Stylists from now-closed salon reunited
Stylists from now-closed Continental Cuts in Taylor reunited just a few miles away
Patti Tis (left), Michelle Rickard, Kristin Jackson and Shelle Eccleton lost their jobs when Continental Cuts suddenly closed last month, but were quickly reunited when Bellissimo Tan & Hair offered them all positions in order for the crew to stay together.
By Zach Russell | |
PUBLISHED: July 13, 2021 at 6:12 a.m. | UPDATED: July 13, 2021 at 12:55 p.m.
Taylor salon Continental Cuts closed its doors suddenly last month after being a staple in the community for decades.
With the staff left in a difficult position, Bill Helton, owner of Bellissimo Tan & Hair, stepped in and provide the women an opportunity to continue working together.
"I told the girls that I would love to help and see what I could do," he said. "I only had two chair openings, so originally I wasn't sure if I could keep them all together."
Military medical team to be deployed to Wyandotte Hospital as COVID cases climb
Federal medical team sent to assist at Wyandotte Hospital as COVID cases surge
Bellissimo, located at 22289 and 22299 Goddard Road in Taylor, is made up of two buildings. When the staff was told about the closure and Helton's idea to bring in the new stylists, they worked together to accommodate them in one side of the salon.
"I sat down and talked to my current staff; they felt bad and wanted to help," Helton said. "My staff rearranged themselves and let them have the four chairs next to each other on the second side of the store. It was so phenomenal of my staff to do that. When I told the Continental Cuts girls, they were absolutely ecstatic and we were able to get them in two days later."
The four women who joined the Bellissimo team — Shelle Eccleton, Kristen Jackson, Michelle Rickard and Patti Tis — have decades of experience, and spent much of that time at Continental Cuts.
Helton said the longevity of the business and how much time the women have put in there, helped motivate his desire to hire them.
"Being able to help somebody, especially in this profession where it's a lot of hard work, was really special," he said. "I went to Continental Cuts in high school and to now be able to help the staff that was there, you can't plan something like that. It's been unbelievable to help them out."
Photo courtesy of Google Maps Bellissimo, located at 22289 and 22299 Goddard Road in Taylor, is made up of two buildings, one of which is now housing the stylists from the former Continental Cuts in Taylor.
Rickard began working at Continental Cuts in 1989. She said she is grateful things worked out and that she hopes to recreate the special connection the staff at Continental Cuts had with their clients. Their new home base is only about four miles from the old business.
"It was comfortable there, and I never saw a group of people work so well together," she said. "It's bittersweet. I didn't want to leave, and I wish things could have ended better, but I get to work with the three other girls that I've known forever and I love it."
Zach Russell