In her more than a decade owning a hair salon, Leslie Gaensel has seen an evolution in the business that includes stylists working alone in suites, and medical spas offering facial and beauty services.
But what she offers customers and staff is something that keeps them coming back.
“For clients, I think it’s the experience, the way we treat our clients and how our stylists make our clients feel when they are here,” said Gaensel, 42, who celebrated her 13th year in the business in May operating LMG Mane salon. “It’s a family-based atmosphere, everybody knows everybody. I think that the clients want that. We want them to feel welcome.”
She is hiring for entry level positions and said, “The business is doing a shift, but I found that there are stylists that want that salon community. They are looking for guidance, between getting out of school and getting on the salon floor and building a book of business for themselves. They may then flee the nest. Some don’t want to leave. If they want to grow and make money with us, that’s fine.
“That’s what I did to end up having my own salon,” Gaensel said. “I worked in a salon for 10 years, I had a different vision, and came to open my own place.”
LMG Mane is at 6710 Main St., behind Amazonia Nikkei restaurant.
“We’re happy here,” Gaensel said of the space she began renting in December, 2023 after previously running her salon in Palm Springs North.
“We love the space and being on Main Street,” she said. “The location brings in a lot of walk-in clients. We have Dunkin’ and the parking lot and people see us. Also, the hotel helps. When people are in town for an event, we’ve gotten a lot of calls from there. And the foot traffic.”
Salon Manager Elizabeth Llibre is Gaensel’s friend since kindergarten and has worked with her since the business opened.
“I think she’s grown as a leader and a mentor, and she had a mentor as well, when she was a baby stylist,” Llibre said. “I’ve seen her come into her own and do that for lots of other people. Managing very creative people is a lot, and she is doing it very well.”
Gaensel said of her goals for the next 13 years, “We’re trying to create an internship program to get people who are in school working with us, so they get experience before they graduate and we can provide more training for them.
“Also, growing the salon, to give them a place where they feel good about being here and doing what they love,” she said.
She emphasizes training for new stylists and those with experience, too. The team will travel to Orlando soon for the biggest hair and makeup convention in Florida.
“We try to stay current with styles and trends,” Gaensel said. “It’s team building and educational time, and there are workshops and classes they can take for all kinds of things. We’re always learning.”
Lately customers are asking to look good without having to take a lot of time to get ready.
“Clients want easier maintenance, a softer look and still want very healthy hair,” she said. “Low maintenance hair takes a little bit of work, the way the hair is lightened and toned.”
As for the med spa craze, “We’re watching and not participating,” she said. “Clients won’t be getting Botox at LMG. I’ll host an event here for those services, but it’s not on our menu. I wish them all well.
“We can’t wait to see where the next couple of years takes us,” she said.