Get 'glossed' at the newest hair salon in Sharpsburg
Sharpsburg finally has a hair salon.
Glossed Beauty Co. is a new full-service hair salon on Main Street and co-owners and best friends Lexi Rothwell and Bailey McClafferty are the stylist duo behind the brand, offering “elevated, effortless beauty.”
“Our mission is to enhance your natural beauty and confidence through lived-in color and seamless extensions. We blend artistry and authenticity to deliver luxury results in a relaxed and welcoming environment,” Rothwell said.
They chose Sharpsburg for many reasons, including that it was without a salon, and its proximity to Route 28 and the Fox Chapel area, where many of their clients hail from.
“We knew we would eventually open our place and we didn’t want to rush it,” McClafferty said. “Sharpsburg is up-and-coming and the vibe down here is really cool and the location is perfect.”
Glossed held a grand opening was on Oct. 2.
“We did crack open some champagne that day,” McClafferty said.
McClafferty, a 31-year-old married mother of two of Saxonburg, didn’t have a career in cosmetology in mind when she graduated from Springdale Jr-Sr High School.
“I knew I wasn’t going to college. I took a year off and worked at Cedar Point in Ohio,” McClafferty said. “My mom suggested cosmetology school and I liked it.”
Turns out momma knew best.
McClafferty and Rothwell met as stylists at Motive salon on the North Shore.
Combined, the friends have more than 15 years as stylists.
Glossed specializes in color, cuts, extensions and long hair. Free hair extension consultations are available and include a hair/scalp assessment, color matching and explanation of cost and maintenance.
Haircut prices range from $50-$85 and color services range from $120-$400.
Glossed client Brittany Loveland of Plum said the drive to Sharpsburg is worth it to get her cut and colored.
“Bailey is very talented and really fun to be around, so I enjoy coming here,” Loveland said. “I have two kids at home, so this is my time to myself.”
With a five-year lease, the friends are excited to welcome new clients and stay active on social media, promoting before-and-after hair looks on clients.
A well-stocked complimentary snack and beverage station is just one way the business partners want clients to feel welcomed at Glossed.
“Some people are in here 3-4 hours; they need something to help them not be hungry,” McClafferty said. “It took us a few years to make this happen and this location worked out perfectly. Everyone here — the Sharpsburg community — has been great.”
Rothwell grew up in Etna and lives in Verona.
She was interested in a career in forensic science, but her love of makeup stuck.
“I originally did my friends’ makeup and it gradually progressed into hair,” Rothwell said. “From there on, I just decided that would be the route I would take.”
A 2016 Shaler High School alumnus, Rothwell is single and thrilled to be her own boss at 27.
“It’s fun to just do the things that we want,” Rothwell said. “We want our clients to be able to grab coffee or a beer after being here and Sharpsburg isn’t saturated with salons.”
Spending less time booking salon appointments is the concept behind what Glossed promotes as “lived-in” color.
“It’s a soft, seamless color (more natural looking) that allows a client to come to the salon less. It grows out “softer” with lower maintenance,” Rothwell said.
McClafferty often brings in her dog Roger, the unofficial salon pup, to work.
Emma Monteleone, 23, is the sole part-time stylist at Glossed and the first hire.
“I’m building my book (clientele) and I assist and learn from them. I hope to be full-time. It’s a lot of one-on-one here and it’s a good experience for me,” Monteleone said.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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