By Elizabeth Cloutman

Atelier Salon offers hair care and makeup service in a quiet atmosphere

Business Profile

Even in times of economic downturn, the one luxury people almost never give up is visiting a hair salon, said Karie Bennett, owner of Atelier Salon.

“Having your hair done is one of the last remaining things you can treat yourself to,” Bennett said. “As far as I’m concerned, we don’t want anyone to have a bad hair day.”

Bennett and the two other Atelier Salon cosmetologists, Brenda Kim and Pam Goodman, do hair cutting and styling, eyebrow shaping, ear-piercing and makeup for special occasions. They assist their clientele in learning how to style their own hair and apply makeup.

Atelier Salon, located in the courtyard area of 220 State St., has a quiet, intimate atmosphere. “Most of the feedback I get is that (the three-chair salon) seems like someone’s home. It’s kind of quiet and calming,” Bennett said.

The salon is also very busy. Both Bennett and Goodman are completely booked, but Kim is still taking on new customers. “She’s very good,” Bennett said.

The salon carries a collection of costume jewelry as well as a line of all-natural cosmetics. It carries the Aveda line of hair care products, makeup and other cosmetics. Aveda, a Minnesota-based company, uses ingredients derived from plants and flowers in all its formulas. Bennett, Goodman and Kim use only Aveda products on their customers. “It’s good for the environment, customers and hairdressers,” Bennett said. She noted that often the chemicals in hair care products can be irritating, particularly for hairdressers, who are exposed to them all day. The salon does not do hair permanents for the same reason.

Bennett opened the salon four years ago, after working in seven salons in 17 years, most of that time in Los Altos. A Sunnyvale resident, she said she enjoys working in Los Altos. “Even though it has an upscale bent, it seems like a small town,” she said. “Residents don’t like to leave Los Altos for services. All the salons keep very busy.”

Bennett said she has been interested in hair and makeup since age 12. “My mother said it really started when I was 3 and cut my own bangs,” she said, laughing. As a Foothill College vocal music student, she often spent time outside the band room helping classmates with hair and makeup. After receiving her associate degree, she enrolled in cosmetology school upon the advice of her parents. “I can’t really imagine doing anything else,” she said.

She still finds time to use her vocal talents in one or two local theater productions a year. Recently she was in the cast of “Showboat” and the “Los Altos Follies.”

Atelier Salon is also involved in charitable work, preparing welcome bags of cosmetics for the Battered Women’s Shelter and donating money to charity walks for AIDS and breast cancer. In the last month, the salon has been involved in the Hands for Humanity project in cooperation with local high school students. Students make red, white and blue crystal bead bracelets, which local merchants sell to raise money for the American Red Cross. All the proceeds from the bracelet sales go to the Red Cross, Bennett said.

For more on Atelier, call 947-8866 or logon to: www.ateliersalon.com.