New Salon, 'We Are Hair,' Settles into JP

They are hair and they are here. On Aug. 1, Jamaica Plain’s newest hair salon, We are Hair at , opened its doors.

Featuring four stylists with decades of experience among them, We are Hair is a full service salon, offering everything from blowouts to lowlights. Despite its small size, tucked away in the back of Soleil, the stylists look at the new salon as an exciting, fresh chance.

Head stylist Richard Repetta worked at another salon in JP ­– which he preferred not to name – for two decades prior to coming to We are Hair.

“It was a new opportunity, with this being a full service place,” he said. “I was at another location for almost 20 years and it was time to go out on my own.”

Stylist Ismelda “Mel” Ramirez also worked at another Jamaica Plain salon before joining the team at We are Hair. Like fellow stylist Katie Buckley, Ramirez brings 10 years of experience with her. Rounding out the team is Leroy Powell, who only recently went to school after doing hair freelance for years.

“Rick actually went to the same school I did, so when he wanted a new face – someone up and coming – he contacted them and I was recommended,” Powell says of how he was brought into the fold.

The biggest benefit, according to the stylists, is the chance to work at an all-inclusive spa atmosphere.

“There was the appeal of the multiple services,” Repetta explains. “It’s the marriage of the existing spa and us. People can come in and get several services done all at one time. They can come in for hair and then go up to the front and have a manicure or pedicure while their color is processing.”

The first two weeks were spent cutting, coloring and processing the hair of new and returning clients alike.

“We’ve had a great opening, it’s a combination of old and new clients,” Repetta said. “The majority [of our existing clients] I would say have followed us here.”

Currently, We are Hair is offering 15 percent off for existing Soleil clients, but Repetta says he has many ideas to bring clients in and reach out to different groups in the community.  

“One idea is to connect with the JP Men’s Group, to offer something like a ‘men’s night out at the spa’ where they can get haircuts, pedicures, tan. Paul Mitchell has a whole specialty men’s line,” Repetta said.

The salon is primarily a Paul Mitchell focus salon, but they also offer organic Kera-Green treatments and a few other specialty brands.

We are Hair's employees hope the salon will be welcomed into Jamaica Plain as a valued part of the community.

“Three out of four of us have been rooted here in JP,” says Repetta of the team of stylists. “I’ve also been involved in community theatre in JP. A lot of people in the area are familiar with me from there. The salon is in the heart of real business center of JP. We hope it will be a warm, comfortable environment for people.”

Powell echoes the advantage We are Hair enjoys with their centralized location. As he carefully brushes out the white curls of his customer he notes that people want something close to home, and, "we are."

For one client at least, the location and conjunction with Soleil is a winning combination. Sarah Saba raves about both the hair salon and Soleil as Repetta blew out her long auburn hair.

“I fell over myself for the nail salon when it opened,” she says. “I just wanted to get my hair styled for a wedding so I just asked when I saw it was open. It’s a nice, clean, efficient place.”

While for the most part, We are Hair follows the same schedule at Soleil, they open two hours earlier on Thursdays and Fridays.

We Are Hair

708 Centre St. (in Soleil Tan & Spa)

617-983-1600