A Hair Salon for the times we live in.

Modern, sleek, innovative, warm and welcoming – JACK EDWARDS’ is truly a hair salon for the times we live in! 

  Have you treated yourself to a visit? For many ladies in Roscommon, JACK EDWARDS is a name that conjures for them, images of a cosy and familiar place which they delight in visiting. For others, it’s an as-yet-undiscovered pleasure….

  Proprietor Sinead McDonnell clearly loves what she does. Sinead has been working in the hairdressing business for over thirteen years and is vastly experienced as this stage. Her enthusiasm is undimmed – in fact she’s never been so excited about

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Modern, sleek, innovative, warm and welcoming – JACK EDWARDS’ is truly a hair salon for the times we live in! 

  Have you treated yourself to a visit? For many ladies in Roscommon, JACK EDWARDS is a name that conjures for them, images of a cosy and familiar place which they delight in visiting. For others, it’s an as-yet-undiscovered pleasure….

  Proprietor Sinead McDonnell clearly loves what she does. Sinead has been working in the hairdressing business for over thirteen years and is vastly experienced as this stage. Her enthusiasm is undimmed – in fact she’s never been so excited about the business! 

  One reason for that is the fact that Sinead and staff are now in a new location. JACK EDWARDS House of Colour is now located at The Square in Roscommon town. The title, by the way, is in honour of Sinead’s two grandfathers, Jack and Edward. The name has become part of the business life of the town. 

  In its new location, JACK EDWARDS’ is looking very well indeed. Step inside and you are feel a warm glow – and see smiling faces. Sinead has just welcomed an experienced new Hair Stylist, Joe. A Junior Stylist, Jessy, makes up the full-time team. Nina, an expert in Indian Hair Massage, puts in a very busy Saturday and the team expect demand for Indian Hair Massages and Eyebrow and Eyelash Tinting to ‘grow.’ 

  Speaking to the Roscommon People this week, Sinead was anxious to  thank her loyal customers for their continued support. This week Sinead is launching some new innovations at JACK EDWARDS. Her ‘team’ are up and running and all set for Christmas. And so are her new innovations. These involve link-ups with a local restaurant (Jackson’s) and a local Café (The Harrison Coffee House). Customers of JACK EDWARDS’ can order food and dine in the hair salon, or indeed avail of special offers in Jackson’s when they are finished in JACK EDWARDS. 

  The novel link-up with other businesses reflects the modern mood that prevails in this centrally located hair salon. It’s a colourful salon where customers are relaxed by shoulder, neck and head massages, with soothing music playing in the background. There’s complimentary teas and coffees too. Sinead and her staff are the heart and soul of the business, professional, caring and friendly. 

  Joe, who starts this week, can expect to be popular, Sinead jokes. 

  “Oh Joe will be very popular…..some people ring up and ask for Jack….the ladies love to be tended to be a man!” 

Sinead – ‘delighted to be back in Roscommon town in our new location’

A word with Sinead …

Sinead, you are very well established in the hairdressing business at this stage….can you remind readers of your own background? 

Well, I’m from Strokestown originally, though my family later moved to Frenchpark. In fact I went to school in Frenchpark and have happy memories of those years. It’s thirteen years now since I started working in Roscommon. At first I was working for Ciara Hughes in ‘Ryan Evans’ in the Old Jail/Stone Court Centre. Then I set up my own business, ‘JACK EDWARDS,’ in Castle Street in 2005. The business was called after my two grandfathers!

You have great qualifications yourself…..

Well I trained with Paul Cribbin (now of Zeneth in Galway) at the Connacht College of Hairdressers. I also trained with Philip Yourell Hair Design in Eyre Street in Galway. Later I trained with Revlon and now I train with Alfaparf Milano and keep upskilling myself with them. 

Now you’ve moved location to The Square in Roscommon. Tell us about that….

Yes basically JACK EDWARDS is back – and in the centre of town! We have a lovely new location in The Square. We are delighted with the location. We opened on August 3rd. People have been great and I want to thank all of our customers and our new neighbours here for their support. 

I know that you do things very innovatively here…..for example you’ve teamed up with some local businesses to help one another, and indeed to help the public? 

Yes, it’s just a question, as you say, of businesses trying to help one another. We are trying to do things a bit differently! I approached Jack in Harrison Coffee House and the result is that we are now launching our JACK EDWARDS Menu. So we have a Sandwich Menu and a Lunchtime Special…..a customer here can place an order with us and their order will be delivered to JACK EDWARDS and enjoyed here on our premises. It’s just a novel approach, I guess. 

  We are also introducing an exciting link-up with Jackson’s Restaurant. If a minimum of four ladies come into JACK EDWARDS for a blow-dry they can avail of a either a starter, dessert of bottle of wine free with their meal in Jackson’s. That will run on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Meanwhile any group of four coming to JACK EDWARDS House of Colour from Jackson’s Restaurant will get a 5% discount on blow drys as part of this initiative. 

  Also, on the first Wednesday of each month we are doing a special ‘Mother & Daughter’ offer. If both mother and daughter come in for a Wash, Cut & Blow Dry (€55) they can dine afterwards in Jackson’s and avail of a special pizza offer, where they will get the second pizza for half price. 

You’re certainly showing initiative in what are demanding times for all small businesses, Sinead. How are you managing in the teeth of this recession? 

Well we basically try to do things a bit different – like the link-up with other businesses – and we feel we are offering a special service to our customers. We keep up to date with everything (in the business) and have a modern outlook. I have many years of experience and I know what our clients want at this stage. Our clients have been great, we have so many regular clients who we love to see, and of course we would always love to see more! 

  I feel we are reasonably priced and that we give a very good service. We don’t have a radio here, we have a television with MTV on, it relaxes customers and creates a nice atmosphere. So surviving in business from our point of view is about relaxing our customers and giving them the best and welcoming them back…..

So it’s onwards and upwards! No doubt you’re looking forward to Christmas and to ‘JACK EDWARDS’ continuing to settle into its new location….? 

Yes we are delighted to be in such a prominent new location in the heart of Roscommon town. We’re looking forward to Christmas very much and indeed customers can expect complimentary drinks at Christmas time. We love meeting our customers and do all we can to facilitate them. For example customers do not require an appointment here during the week. We’d encourage people to contact us and we will do our very best for them. I want to take this opportunity to again thank all of our customers for their loyalty and support.  

A word with Jessy …

Jessy, tell us about your career background…..

I am from China….I trained as a hairdresser in China but actually decided to try a new career field and studied hotel management. Then I switched back to hairdressing – and I am glad I did! 

How long are you with JACK EDWARDS and what is your role? 

I joined JACK EDWARDS in August and I am a Junior or Trainee Hairdresser here.  

What does your work involve? 

I give the customer a dry shampoo…..using shampoo and warm water….then I will give them a relaxing massage while the customer is waiting (to have their hair done). I massage their shoulders, neck and head and it is very relaxing. It takes ten or fifteen minutes usually….we don’t charge for this and it makes customers very relaxed. 

Do you like working in Roscommon? 

Yes, I actually live in Athlone but I am really glad that I am employed in Roscommon. I enjoy it very much and it helps when you are working with nice people.  

A word with Joe …

Joe, what is your role at JACK EDWARDS? 

I am a full-time stylist. I do cutting, colouring, highlights, blow dry…..everything!

What is your career background?
Well I am from China originally, but I worked in Dublin for twelve years. I qualified as a hair stylist and am now living in Athlone. 

How long are you with JACK EDWARDS House of Colour? 

I have just joined JACK EDWARDS in Roscommon. I am just starting this weekend! I will be tending to ladies and gents, hairdressing and barber service. I am really looking forward to it. 

A word with Nina ….

What is your career background, Nina? 

I am from India but have been living in Ireland for the past seven years. I did all my training in India before moving here. In all I had nine years’ experience in India. I live in Athlone where I have been working from home for over six years. I joined JACK EDWARDS’ in August and am here every Saturday. 

And what do you do? 

I do Eyebrow Threading, Eyelash Tinting, Eyebrow Tinting and Indian Head Massage. 

Tell us what that involves….

Well, Indian Eyebrow Threading for example is becoming very popular in Dublin and other cities – and now in Roscommon! This is a much, much safer process than waxing. Waxing which can give you wrinkles, affect the pigmentation of your skin or cause dry patches. There are no chemicals involved, it really is the perfect way to get it done. It takes ten to fifteen minutes. 

What about Indian Head Massage? 

It’s getting very popular too…..I combine three oils, I mix them and then I do the Indian Head Massage. It relieves stress and is actually very good for the hair, it’s ‘food for your head.’ Our customers here are ladies of all ages. 

Do you like working in Roscommon? 

Yes, I really like Roscommon. As I said I am here every Saturday at the moment – and it’s getting busier! 

Saving you money ….

If a minimum of four ladies come into JACK EDWARDS for a blow-dry they can avail of a either a starter, dessert of bottle of wine free with their meal in Jackson’s Restaurant  Roscommon town. That will run on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Meanwhile any group of four coming to JACK EDWARDS House of Colour from Jackson’s Restaurant will get a 5% discount on blow drys as part of this initiative. 

 Also, on the first Wednesday of each month we are doing a special ‘Mother & Daughter’ offer. If both mother and daughter come in for a Wash, Cut & Blow Dry (€55) they can dine afterwards in Jackson’s Restaurant and avail of a special pizza offer, where they will get the second pizza for half price. 

Roscommon People

Issue: 16th November 2012