Husband and Wife Open Second Hair Salon in Dexter

A new cut and color hair studio has opened its doors in downtown Dexter.

Whit's End Hair Studio, owned by Michael and Whitney Shoemaker, is the newest tenant at 8118 Main St., the former location of Modern Vintage Boutique.

The Shoemakers opened their business three weeks ago after months of searching for a suitable location to serve clients near the I-94 corridor.

"We just love Dexter. Everyone is so nice and friendly," Whitney Shoemaker said.

Formally of West Branch, the couple has been working in the salon business for the past 10 years.

"I knew I always wanted to have my own salon," Shoemaker said. "What girl doesn't remember hacking away at their Barbie's hair when they were a kid?"

Whit's End offers everything from hair cuts to coloring, highlights, and waxing. And though the business is located adjacent to Family Barber Shop, neither the Shoemakers nor their neighbors are worried about competing business.

"Before we moved in, the landlord asked us to check with the barbershop to see if they cared. Barbershops serve a different clientele; they do men, we do primarily women," she said. "Besides, it's kind of quaint to have a barbershop and a salon next door."

To that end, Shoemaker said the couple is trying to keep prices as competitive as possible. Prices range from $34 for a women's haircut, to $95 for foil coloring with a haircut.

"We want to preserve that small town feel but give our customers a little extra for their money," she said.

Prior to moving to Dexter, the couple opened their first salon in 2005. The location recently received national media attention for providing hair services to Whitney Kropp, a bullied Michigan teen who was nominated as homecoming queen at West Branch High School.

"We're very community oriented," she said. "Anytime there's an event or fundraiser going on in the community, we want to help out."

Shoemaker said in the future, she and her husband, a full-time surgical technician at the University of Michigan, would like to open salons across the state.

For now, though, she said she is fine managing the two locations.

"I'm the only one running the Dexter salon until we hire more employees," Shoemaker said. "We're taking it one day at a time. We hope that customers will recognize what we're trying to do and will continue to support a local merchant."

The business is open Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and after hours by appointment.

"We're excited to grow our business in Dexter and meet the people of the community while giving hairdressers a comfortable place to work," Shoemaker said.

For more information, visit the Whit's End Hair Studio Facebook page.