As a child, Angie Hart loved playing with her cousin’s long hair. She always had a knack for hair styling, and this passion eventually turned into a full-time career.
Hart is the owner and operator behind Angie’s Hair for Hart, an in-home salon in Bradford West Gwillimbury.
Before setting up shop five years ago, she worked at various salons in Newmarket.
“I was worried when I first decided to go on my own… There are so many salons in Bradford … but Bradford is so big now that there are clients for everybody,” she said.
Hart enjoys the social aspect of cutting people’s hair and said her clients have become more like friends.
“It’s a little more personal than going into a salon setting where a hairstylist could have two or three clients going at the same time. They’re getting my one-on-one attention,” she said.
When Hart is not working on people’s tresses, she spends her weekends in the winter on the slopes at Horseshoe Valley Resort with her family. Hart, her husband and eldest son are all instructors at the resort.
“Skiing is the only other thing that my kids are involved in. It’s not as hard to balance as some people think,” she said about work-life balance.
In December 2017, Hart broke her leg in a skiing accident and was required to take four months off work to recover. After many physiotherapy appointments and a lot of rest, she was finally able to stand and work again in April 2018.
“I can’t even describe how lucky I felt when I could finally start working again — 98 per cent of my clients came back,” she said.
Hart said she values her clients and their dedication to her craft.
She said she always welcomes changing things up when it comes to hair. She likes to let her clients try new things so they do not get bored with their styles.
“I don’t want to get into a stalemate with my clients… It’s like losing a friend if they don’t come back,” she said. “I love doing colour. Colour is my favourite, especially when someone chooses something different. Then I can get creative with it.”
Hart said she truly believes in giving back to the community.
For the past five years, Hart has volunteered her time as a shaver at school fundraising events in town for the annual Shave For the Brave campaign, which raises money for young people with cancer.
The campaign originated in St. John’s, N.L., and now has events all across Canada. Kids raise money with pledges to have their hair shaved (or cut) off.
“When it comes to stuff like that I have no problems donating my time to go and help out because I think it’s great what these kids are doing. And I think it’s a great cause,” she said.
Hart said most of her clients are regulars, but she welcomes new customers on a regular basis. To check out her work, you can follow her on Facebook. To make an appointment, call 905-716-2971.
