21 Years of Le Shag
Twenty one years is a long time for any small business. And if Le Shags walls could talk, what stories could it tell!! But what it is really about is how a salon grew into a creative space that has touched so many peoples lives over the years. And Jen Donovan held the pen.
Jennifer’s journey into hair started long before Le Shag opened its doors. From taking cosmetology classes while still in high school to spending nearly eight years learning alongside Mark Ferraro, the foundation was being built. If you’d like to read more about Jennifer’s path and the early history of Le Shag, we’ve linked that story below.
I have only been at Le Shag for six years, just over a quarter of its existence. But I’ve heard the stories. Stories of salon gatherings that went far beyond hair. Gatherings centered around art, music, creativity, and building community. Le Shag was far more than just a place that did hair, and everyone from the ordinary to the extraordinary has walked through its doors. Jen created a place where there was dialogue, conversation, and connection.
This resonated with me. I had co owned a café that did so many of the same things, and I felt like I had found someone who came from a similar place. From our first phone call to our first meeting, I was excited by the idea of joining a salon that offered more than just a chair.
Don’t get me wrong, I love doing hair behind the chair. Technically I do the same job every day, but every day brings new people, new projects, and new ways to make people feel magical. I love that. But Le Shag also provides opportunities to step outside the salon. There are art shows, hair shows, collaborations with Bard and Broadway, photo shoots, fashion shows, and projects that challenge us creatively. Whether it’s creating avant garde looks for the Hair Ball, teaching makeup to theatre students, or collaborating with artists and local organizations to provide services for our local community, it adds another layer to what this career can be.
Over the years those opportunities have continued to grow. The salon walls have become a gallery for local artists. Education has remained a priority. Stylists are encouraged to teach, collaborate, explore new ideas, and pursue creative work both inside and outside the salon. Beyond the Shag has become another extension of that philosophy, creating a place to tell the stories happening within our community and walls. There are three locations, The Maiden, Le Shag Kingston, and Le Shag Woodstock. Each place unique on its own but carrying the soul of Le Shag throughout.
Twenty one years later, hair is the common thread, but it has never been the only story. It’s the people, the conversations, the creativity, and the willingness to keep saying yes to new ideas that have shaped what Le Shag has become.
Happy 21st Anniversary, Le Shag. Here’s to the next chapter.
Read all about Jen Donovan and Le Shag history, It’s a very fun read! – Pioneer Agency
It Was Never Just About Hair
