Ever since Casey DePoy was a little girl, she knew she wanted to work as a stylist one day.

“I used to cut my Barbie’s hair,” she laughed. “I used to cut it, curl it and color it.”

She would even style the hair of school friends because she simply enjoyed the creativity involved.

Even though DePoy never actually considered owning a business, that changed recently.

“It was spur of the moment,” she said.

A hair stylist for 13 years in Logansport and another five in Indianapolis, DePoy decided she wanted the opportunity to work for herself.

“In April, I decided it was time to go off on my own,” said DePoy, who has worked at Accents of Elegance and Bliss salons. “I’ve never done that before. I’ve always worked for someone else, so this is a new experience.”

Hair to Dye For opened for business May 22.

“Everything just fell into place, it was meant to be,” she said. “It only took me 20 years.”

DePoy recruited two other workers from Bliss Salon — Kellee Wolfe and Rosalina Vazquez. Stylist Ashley Putnam joined the salon shortly after it opened. According to DePoy, all four stylists work as independent contractors.

Originally, DePoy approached Wolfe about the idea of opening her own salon.

“Both of us decided it was a good time for change,” said DePoy.

“She said if I did it, she was along for the ride. ... This came around and it was perfect timing. We love it.”

DePoy is satisfied with the business and those who work there. She referred to Wolfe as her best friend.

Wolfe said they were like Laverne and Shirley.

According to Wolfe, Hair to Dye For was opened to better service clients, as well as show off the personalities of the stylists. The goal was to make the business as comfortable and homey as possible.

The transition into the new salon took two weeks. The walls were painted, the space was decorated, supplies were purchased and the furniture was found at antique malls.

DePoy received a lot of help from family and friends to whom she is very grateful. She said the opening preparations were the most challenging part of owning the business to this point. While the two-week transformation was stressful, DePoy said it was well worth it.

“It’s shabby-chic in here,” said DePoy. “The salon definitely has character.”

The transformation had to take place as quickly as possible, Wolfe said, because the women had clients waiting on them.

She added that Misty Shively, owner of Coed Cuts, allowed the stylist to work in her business until Hair to Dye For was ready to go.

Wolfe has cut hair for 21 years and worked at several salons in town, including Bliss, Designer Joe’s Hair Care and Nails, and Transitions. She also owned and operated a salon from her house

10 years ago. She is grateful to all of her faithful clients, who have traveled with her over the years. She has decided to put her roots down and remain at Hair to Dye For.

Watching her mother work in the industry for 30 years, Wolfe knew she wanted to become a hair stylist years ago. In addition to cutting and styling hair, Wolfe also offers makeup services.

Putnam, who began styling hair in January, specializes in cutting ethnic hair. She was excited to make the move to Hair to Dye For.

“It’s an honor to work with both Casey and Kellee,” she said. “They have such great experience and it is a great opportunity to learn a lot from them.”

Vazquez has cut hair for one year and specializes in men’s cuts and spa pedicures. Vazquez, who works Tuesday through Saturday, is fluent in Spanish.

She hopes the new salon will enable her to learn more from DePoy and Wolfe.

The salon offers a variety of services, including coloring, highlights, cuts, perms, men’s cuts, manicures, pedicures, spa pedicures, artificial nails, facial waxings and special occasion hair and makeup.

DePoy considers her clients to be family. The most rewarding aspect of owning the business has been new friendships she has made and the new clients she has had the opportunity to meet. Hair to Dye For has taken off with a full house just two weeks after the opening.

“It’s a blessing,” said DePoy. “It really is.”

• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com

New business

Name: Hair to Dye For

Address: 420 High St.

Phone: 574-753-0267

Hours: Vary, open 7 days a week; call for an appointment. Walks-in accepted by stylists Ashley Putnam and Rosalina Vazquez.