adventures in art: hairt
Heike Wilms, curator/CEO, and Adrian Ojeda at hairt
hairt
3201 Del Prado Boulevard South
Cape Coral, Florida 33904
239.634.8222
www.hairt.net
Finding a place to get your hair cut and colored in a new city can be a bit traumatizing, but I was desperate. Grays be damned, I thought I could keep growing out my European disconnect until I was back home in the safe and welcoming chair of Kirk in Omaha.
I was wrong.
I started with an Internet search of the 10 best salons in Cape Coral, Florida, and settled on hairt, a professional hair salon & art gallery. What? Yep.
After bringing me a cappuccino in an uber-sleek cup and saucer set, curator/CEO Heike Wilms asked if she could tell me the salon’s story, as the balloons celebrating its opening four weeks ago were still waving in the Florida breeze.
An entrepreneur who studied law in her native Germany, Wilms told me about the first time she fell in love with art. She was 19 and stumbled upon the piece in a local gallery. The price was too steep for her budget at the time, $2,000, but she told the artist she was going to save the money to buy it. Every few weeks, Wilms would stop by the studio to make sure it was still there.
It always was.
After a year, Wilms saved enough money to take the work home, and art has been part of her life ever since.
She told me the concept of hairt is twofold: provide top quality services in an amazing atmosphere (the wash basins look out on one of Cape Coral’s many canals) and introduce locals to the joy of purchasing affordable, original art.
During the year prior, Wilms traveled throughout southwest Florida looking for artists to feature in her art gallery. The current group offers colorful work in a variety of media, which covers the salon’s pristine white walls. You can view art from every salon seat in the place. The prices are - as Wilms said - incredibly affordable and offer the opportunity to start a collection.
In terms of hair services, hairt professional Adrian Ojeda suggested a trim and color that would lift my spirits, then proceeded to actually make it happen. Bonus - getting your hair washed by this friendly, gentle soul is like getting a massage.
Hairt is a unique, enchanting place, and I heartily recommend it if your soul needs a boost.
PS: Heike’s style has encouraged me to up my fashion game while I’m hanging out at Ming Toy Gallery - let’s see if I can do it!
My take-home gift from hairt, adorable!