Walking into Family Haircuts is like walking into the bar in the popular show “Cheers,” it’s a place where everybody knows your name.
Business owner, Kay Yim likes it that way. She describes her customers as “wonderful” and says she “wouldn’t trade them for anything.”
Kay moved to Fairfield from South Korea over 30 years ago after she met and married a serviceman. Moving to California was quite an adjustment as she knew little English.
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The food, she said, was the hardest thing to get used to.
Kay’s mother also moved with her, and it was at her urging that Kay decided to go to beauty school.
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“I didn’t even know how to cut my own bangs,” Kay said.
After attending Parkside Beauty School in Fairfield, Kay went to work for a national haircutting chain. A few years later, Kay took a chance and purchased the Lady of Fashion salon on Texas Street.
"My mother gave me courage," Kay said. "She told me that if I could hang on through two years (I'd) be fine.”
Building up a clientele was slow at first, but fast-forward 20 years and Family Haircuts is still in business. What started as a salon for women transitioned to include men and children 18 years ago when she renamed her salon Family Haircuts.
Though the economy has adversely affected her business in the last few years, Kay is thankful she has regular customers that have come here for years.”
One customer, Christina O., praised Kay’s salon on Yelp.
“I love Kay! My go-to for highlights, I highly recommend her," the review said. "I will definitely make the trip again.”
“We really try to take care of our customers. Our quality is different” Kay said.
With a return clientele of 80 percent, the numbers speak for themselves. While people may come for the price, the reason they return time after time is Kay.
Family Haircuts is located at 321 W. Texas Street and is open Mon-Fri from 8 a.m., to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. They offer a range of services including hair and skin care.
Recently, we sat down with Kay to find out a little more:
What do you love most about your job?
It makes me happy when I give a good haircut and a customer calls to tell me about all the compliments they’ve received.
What made you decide to go into hair?
I didn’t have a real education. I had jobs babysitting and waiting
tables. I even worked on a farm.
What is the hardest part of your job?
Being on my feet all day.
What do you do on your time off?
Get foot massages.
What service do you enjoy doing most?
Giving highlights.
If you weren’t a hairdresser, what do you think you’d be doing?
I'd own a retail clothing store.
Where is your dream vacation destination?
The Caribbean or Alaska.
Where is your favorite place to eat in Fairfield?
Yo Sushi, I love sashimi.
Who are your easiest customers and why?
Men because they are faster and not as picky about their hair.
How do you stay in shape?
I work around the clock, but enjoy walking every Sunday with two of my
girlfriends.
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