Headlines Salon Focused On Hair Care, Quality Service

OCEAN PINES – Headlines Salon in Ocean Pines strives to set itself apart from the rest by providing the best hair care and quality service in the area.

The Dispatch sat down last Friday with Paula Myers, the manager of Headlines Salon, as she shared how the salon has become a unique asset to Ocean Pines and the surrounding community.

Headlines Salon has been in business for 26 years, 15 of those years it was more of a visitor-based business in Ocean City. For the past 11 years, Headlines has been located in Ocean Pines and has catered to mostly year-round clients.

John Ostrander, owner of Headlines, was in the construction business and had an opportunity to purchase and renovate the property in Ocean Pines where Headlines now stands. His wife, Darla Ostrander, is a senior stylist at the salon.

“John’s capacity at the salon is a working owner,” Myers said. “He is very much a part of the everyday operations of his business.”

Over time, Headlines has become more focused on what it wants to excel at in the salon industry.

“We are not the fanciest or biggest salon in the area, however, we want to be the best of what we do and that’s hair,” Myers said.

The business has evolved from a staff of 22 employees to 16 by re-defining their staff specialties. Headlines now has four senior stylists, four stylists, one junior stylist, three apprentices, three front desk clerks, one nail technician and one intern from the Worcester County Technical School.

“I think what sets us apart from many other salons in the area is the level of education,” Myers said.

According to Myers, John Ostrander sends his staff to New York City every year for three days for intensive training at the TIGI Academy. Myers also sets up four to five in house classes per year for the staff to learn product knowledge, the latest trends and techniques in color and cuts. Representatives from the salon’s color line, Goldwell, and TIGI Academy make personal visits to the salon for instructional sessions.

“They receive quite a bit of education throughout the year and honestly I don’t see better,” Myers said. “By far, we are all hair, we are not a spa anymore … we do great hair.”

Myers said that Headlines also aggressively advertises to attract new clients that have moved into the area. Headlines schedules and accommodates approximately 100 new clients per month.

“When somebody gives us a call, we don’t put our girls on a rotation,” Myers explained. “We basically match their personality up with a stylist.”

Upon calling, a new client will be asked a series of questions on the service they are seeking so that they are matched with the appropriate stylist.

“We want these people to stay,” Myers said. “We want them to be happy.”

Headlines offers women’s, men’s and kid cuts, color, highlights and perms. They also provide shampoo, blow dry and styling, extensions and thinning hair enhancement, Malibu treatments to remove iron, calcium, copper, and chlorine build up, as well as deep conditioning and essential shine treatments. Lastly, but not least, nail services and facial waxing is also offered.

For the past two years, Headlines Salon has participated in Worcester Vocational Cosmetology program. There is currently one student from Stephen Decatur High School that is interning with Headlines and she earns hours toward her Maryland Cosmetology license.

“They have to treat it like a job,” Myers said. “There are not a whole lot of programs that a high school student can do to actually earn a state license.”

On top of providing educational outlets for high school students, Headlines also gives back to the community. John Ostrander and his staff donate to many charities and woman-based programs every year.

“Were a good group of girls here,” Myers said. “We are family here and we all get along so well.”