Heavenly Hair Salon

The women – Sharon Ford, Celeste Lambert, Anita Charles and Delicia Cadogan – among them have over 50 years of experience in the hairdressing business. So, for them, it was only a matter of time before they would go on to open their own establishment, and that they did after collectively changing their status from employees to co-owners.

The women refer to themselves as “ACDS To Stay”, meaning they pledge to remain friends and business partners. The acronym ACDS is a combination of the first letter of each of their first names.

Asked how the name of the salon came about, Manager Ricki Jagessar explained, “I am a Christian and (because of) our link to Christianity, but more so because I really feel it was the hand of God that put it together.”

Jagessar, who met the women while frequenting another establishment where they worked, said: “The girls asked me to meet with them one night and I did and then they asked me to become a partner with them to go into this venture with them of opening a hairdressing salon, and that is essentially how it started.”

He added that after the meeting, it was simply a matter of putting things in place to get started. “The little bit of managerial skills that I have was enough to put it together and get things going, like looking for a place, finding the money and eventually we got it opened. That day was spectacular. We had 52 customers on that day,” Jagessar said.

The establishment offers hairdressing services, as well as spa services including pedicures, manicures, and waxing.

For Lambert, opening the salon represents a step on the road to success, “It’s great working here with my three colleagues Sharon, Anita and Delicia. In time to come I see myself opening up bigger and better, and moving on in life.”

Ford expressed how relaxed she feels at the salon. “I’m enjoying it and five years from now I see myself working harder, having maybe another establishment and offering clients the best service as we can offer.”

The “baby” of the group, Cadogan said she feels a lot more comfortable compared to all the other places she has previously worked and hopes to see herself more established in the future, admitting that she has a lot more to learn.

Jagessar chimed in stating: “Now I may have the managerial skills but the girls can cut hair and they have a good clientele, they are well recognised (for) what they do and I love being in business with them, I really do. They are great girls to work with. They need me and I need them.”

He also has plans to get the girls on a medical plan, having already opened a credit union account for them because he firmly thinks this is an opportunity for them to grow.