Girl Power X 4

By Jennifer Moonsong

Central Division, General Manager

Jobe Publishing, Inc.

“I’ve laughed with people, I’ve cried with people. I’ve done first haircuts and watched their little faces light up. It’s only just hair, it’s so much more,” said Katie Elder-Smith, one of the proprietors of Polished Salon & Spa in Edmonton.

Polished opened in 2013 when Smith partnered with her friend and fellow beautician Summer Glass to open Edmonton’s its full-service salon.

“We wanted a place where people would feel comfortable and at home,” Smith said.

“But also be in a professional environment,” Glass added.

“We were like-minded in the fact that we wanted to create a place that is uplifting to others, where women could feel good about themselves,” said Smith.

Both Smith and Glass knew their calling from an early age.

“When I was seven years old I curled the neighbor girl’s hair,” Smith said.

Glass, who says her favorite movie is Steel Magnolias, also knew what her calling was from the time she was a child.

“When I was a kid, no one ever did my hair the way I wanted it,” she said. “I knew I wanted to grow up and do people’s hair exactly as they wanted it because it’s fun. It doesn’t feel like work, and it is humbling to go make people feel better about themselves.”

In October is 2018, the business partner’s brought in a third hairdresser, Emma Wilson.

Wilson also loved doing hair from an early she but discovered her career destiny as a beautician while working her way through her first semester of college.

“I went to work at Ulta in Bowling, and they were all about hair and makeup, and I loved it,” she said.

She left college and enrolled in beauty school.

For Wilson, coming back to her hometown to follow her dreams made perfect sense.

“They are wonderful to work with, and I love being here in Edmonton,” Wilson said.

As the business grew, the ladies knew it was time to expand, and last week they had a grand re-opening at their new, spacious facility on Stockton Street, right in the heart of Edmonton.

They have now added a fourth beautician, Chelsea Estes. Estes as inspired to go into the beauty industry by her aunt who was a hairdresser.

“I always really looked up to her,” Estes said.

Relocating has allowed them to offer more services. In addition to haircuts for the whole family, they offer a variety of color services including highlights and balayage, waxing, scalp treatments, facials, and nails; They are thrilled to offer their clients a spacious and more luxurious environment to be beautified in.

“We needed to expand,” Glass said.

And although it is still greatly a man’s world, these four ladies are glad to be setting an example in business and in the community.

“I just recently stepped into the role of being an entrepreneur,” said Smith, whose parents were not at first pleased with her decision to go to beauty school instead of college. Since that time, they’ve changed their opinion and feel that their daughter made a great decision for her career.

“I just saw myself as a hairdresser, but I’ve come to realize I’m a businesswoman.”

Smith has sons and not daughters, but she is glad to set a positive example.

“I want them to know girls can do anything boys can do.”

To contact the ladies of Polished Salon & Spa, you may call 270-432-2396. Walk-ins and new clients are welcome.