ESTEVAN - April 19 is a special day for Shelly Mack – it marks 40 years since she started as a beauty specialist.
The Estevan resident has enjoyed a long and successful career, owning multiple businesses and gaining the trust of a long list of clients. But before she entered her current profession, she wanted to be a nurse because she knew people who were in the hospital and she wanted to help them. Then she looked at chemistry and biology as potential career paths.
"I had taken cosmetology in Grades 10, 11 and 12, and I went that route," said Mack.
She spent just over seven months at school in Moose Jaw, worked after school and on weekends, and occasionally entered competitions. Mack went in on Sundays to get extra hours. When she wrapped up her studies in the city, she won the award for most likely to succeed.
"I thought what does this really mean when I got it? I'll be honest, I thought that was pretty dang cool to get," she said.
For several years after graduating, she rented a chair and worked as a hairstylist. Then 33 years ago, she purchased her own business and opened Mack's Reflections, which is still open on Fourth Street. She also owns Platinum Hair Design on King Street. Between the two businesses, they have every service available.
She also owned Evolutions, which was in the Estevan Market Mall, but that business eventually merged into Mack's.
Owning her own salons has a lot of similarities to renting out a chair, but there are some differences.
"I never really had a boss. I just had an owner of a building. The difference between renting to a person and then owning a business is running staff, it's a lot more work, because you have to apprentice them. It's books, payroll, ordering, teaching – and a lot of them, they get out of school, and you have to reteach them how to do hair," she said.
Education and adaptation remain a big part of her work. When she did the interview with SaskToday, she was on her way home from a class she attended in Saskatoon on a new product for her salons. She has been attending more classes and events since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I plan on attending Milan in September for worlds for hairdressing. I was in Chicago two years ago for worlds. Canada won eight of the 12 awards," she said proudly.
She also pointed out that even though Mack's has been around since 1992, there are a couple of salons in Estevan – Cuts Unlimited and Bobbi Hairstyling – that opened before her company.
Mack said the clients remain her favourite part of the job. Her businesses have been there for the customers for everything from their early days to graduation, dance recitals to weddings. She has helped them celebrate milestones such as the birth of a child, and she has been there to cut their hair when in the hospital, or to shave a head of a cancer patient.
Some clients will be in every couple of weeks, while others are every four-to-six weeks. Those clients become like family.
An invitation-only celebration will be held April 19. She has invited a lot of family, friends and clients to the event, which will feature a DJ, drinks, a dance, giveaways and more as she thanks people for their support for 40 years. Distributors will be on hand as well.
"One of the gentlemen that's coming … was my very first client, and I still do his hair," said Mack.
She has no plans to retire from the world of beauty. She is grateful for the support of friends, family, employees and clients for all of their support.
"I say I wake up looking forward to seeing my clients. And I don't find it work. I find it literally socializing and making them feel beautiful by just communicating with them, not just doing their hair. You get a really good relationship with your clients," she said.
