Nicole Van Boxel wasn’t sure she could fulfill her dream of opening up a salon in Hambden Township at the same time she was expecting her first child — but fate, and her husband, believed otherwise.
The Newbury High School graduate had been living in Hambden with her husband, Kyle, for the past three years right next door to what would become Nickel’s Cabin Cuts, 13770 G.A.R. Highway.
“I always wanted to open my own salon, where I could help other young stylists develop their talent and push them to achieve their dreams,” Nicole said in a recent email.
After she had graduated high school, Nicole, 28, studied cosmetology at Auburn Career Center and then entered the Airline Academy to become a flight attendant.
Ideally, Nicole had hoped to be a hairdresser during the week and travel on the weekends or vice versa. However, upon graduation, there was too much uncertainty between the flight attendant schedules and several airlines merging at that time, so Nicole decided to focus solely on her cosmetology career.
She began working at Best Cuts in Middlefield before helping a friend open her own salon in the area and working as her assistant manager.
“My husband and I almost opened a salon in Bristol (Township) five years ago, but the timing was wrong,” Nicole added. “My husband and I started talking about children and he mentioned he wanted to move back to Chardon where he grew up to raise our kids.”
Kyle came across the house that would eventually become their salon and brought his father, Greg Van Boxel, to take a look at it and make sure there wasn’t anything wrong with it.
“When he saw the house, he said, ‘I used to get my haircut here by Darla,’” Nicole recalled. “Since I’ve been open (the salon opened in July), I have learned that the building used to be a beauty shop owned by a woman named Everlyn and then a gentleman owned it and turned it into a barber shop. Then Darla took it over and ran the barbershop.
“So I feel privileged that I can turn it back into what it was years ago and bring back a piece of history to the town of Hambden,” she added.
Three days before Nicole decided to give her notice at her previous salon, she and Kyle found out they were expecting — she is due Feb. 28.
“Nervous about starting something new with a baby on its way, my husband assured me everything would be OK and that we were ready to start the next chapter of our lives,” Nicole said, adding everything lined up and it seemed meant to be.
“The (salon) name changed a few times. I was originally going to go with Had Enough Haircuts because everybody always comes into the salon and says, ‘I’ve had enough, cut it all off …’ but my husband and his dad helped me come up with Nickel’s Cabin Cuts,” Nicole said. “We knew we wanted to make the salon into a cabin to make it rustic and stand out from a regular building or house, (especially) with it being right next to a house.
“And nickel comes form when I first met my husband 12 years ago, he gave me the nickname ‘Nickel.’ So it just seemed to fit perfect,” she added.
Besides its quaint, cozy, rustic appearance and atmosphere, Nickel’s Cabin Cuts — which will be having a free Open House Oct. 8 — stands out from other salons due to its owner’s love of animals.
“I will be donating a portion of every haircut to the local animal shelter at the end of the year,” Nicole said. “I used to foster puppies through Geauga Mama Dogs and Pups before I opened the salon and still wanted to give back to the community in my own way. My three greatest passions are my family, animals and my career as a hairdresser.”
And all three are incorporated into her business.
“The salon is a family-owned, family-oriented atmosphere,” Nicole said. “We cater to the whole family, from kid cuts to grandma’s perm. We welcome both men and women into the salon and we recently just added nails to our menu on Mondays only.
“We also offer a 5-percent discount on Tuesdays and Thursdays for firefighters, police, members of the military and seniors,” she added.
Since opening July 5, Nicole said business has been going well and she has met a lot of the community who seem very grateful there is a hair salon back in Hambden.
“Which is convenient for them instead of (them having to go) into Chardon or Middlefield on their way home from work,” she added. “We welcome the community to stop in and check us out for their next hair or nail needs.”
SIDEBAR:
New Hambden Salon Celebrates Success with Free Open House
Nickel’s Cabin Cuts, a full-service salon, is holding a free Open House 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 8, which will include vendors, such as Jemily’s Soap, showcasing their products, as well as refreshments and seasonal snacks along with free giveaways and raffles.
Attendees can take a chance at winning a free haircut every month for the rest of the year and the salon and Jemily’s will be raffling off baskets of goodies to help raise money
for Geauga Mama Dogs and Pups, a local organization that helps rescue pregnant dogs and their puppies and provides them with loving homes.
“Everyone who stops by will receive a free gift and coupons to use for our services at Nickel’s Cabin Cuts,” said owner Nicole Van Boxel. “Come help us celebrate our success and allow us to showcase our charming, rustic cabin, where you will arrive our client and leave our friend.”
For more information, visit the salon’s Facebook page, Nickel’s Cabin Cuts and Salon, or call 440-214-9528.
