When Beth Ostrand and Amy Brooks decided to go into business

for themselves, it didn’t take them long to come up with a name.

They settled on “Another Hairplace,” which – according

to Ostrand – is highly descriptive, because, “We’re nothing fancy …

just another hair place.” However, if the level of business the two women

have seen is any indication, their shop is much more than just another salon.

They’re located at 301 W. North Bend Way, just a few yards from

the local crossroads of North Bend Way and Bendigo. Brooks and Ostrand

– who are both Valley natives – opened their doors for business on June 1.

According to Ostrand, this is her second business endeavor,

and Brooks’ first.

“I owned a barbershop in downtown Bothell for eight years,”

she commented. “Then I built a house in Fall City, and just kind of moved

back here.”

Brooks stated she graduated from Mount Si High School in 1998 and

had wanted to stay in the area. “I’m a `Valley girl’; till death do us part,”

she added. “I can’t imagine moving and working anywhere.”

The two met while they were working at Hair Masters.

According to Ostrand, the decision to join forces and go into business took all of

a couple of hours and dinner at Denny’s. Since their move into their own

shop, business has been “really good,”

she added.

“It’s been much better than we expected. We never hit the low

we were expecting.”

The two offer a range of services, including haircuts, styling and

coloring. They recently started offering waxing services.

Reviews from customers have been good. Said one, who declined

to give her name but was smiling broadly, “You come in at 50 and leave

looking like you’re 19!

“I’d been going to a salon in Issaquah, but I switched over

here because they’re so friendly. Beth and Amy undergo continuous

education on styling and color matching.”

“What we really provide is home town comfort,” Brooks concluded.

Ostrand concurred, stating, “We’re just trying to make a little more

comfortable hair salon, not quite so `McDonaldsy.’ We wanted a

shop where guys in levis and cowboy boots are just as comfortable as ladies

who park their Mercedes.”

Pointing to a school desk, coloring books and pile of Legos in

the corner, Ostrand added they even had plenty to keep children – and the

occasional cowboy – occupied.

“Where else can an adult get their coloring put on the wall?” she

said with a laugh.