Jax Hair and Intrigues brings style to harbor

Peninsula Gateway, March 14, 2007

Jack Call usually spends his day making women and men look really good, but this day was different.

Make-up brush in hand, hair dryer at the ready Jack was going to turn a pretty young lady into the victim of the worst hair day imaginable. The transformation was for an ad and as Call said, "The ad isn't a "new fashion look". It's the execution of an idea to let Gig Harbor know more about the salon."

Jax Hair and Intrigues, founded by Call in 1992 is nestled in an intimate space on the second floor at 3019 Judson Street across from the Gig Harbor Post Office and the QFC. It is the oldest Aveda concept salon in Washington State and the view from the salon --of Gig Harbor's maritime village-is superb.

Jack is an award-winning stylist who studied with Vidal Sassoon, and was personally taught and trained in hair color, make-up and cutting by the founder of Aveda, Horst Rechelbacher.

Rechelbacher started Aveda in 1978 to provide beauty industry professionals with high performance, botanically based products that would be better for service providers and their guests as well as for the planet. Aveda manufactures professional plant-based hair care, skin care, makeup and lifestyle products, which the salon uses and sells to the public.

Jax has a staff of 6 stylists and assistants who are on hand to provide the highest quality styling and color for clients.

Appointments are available by calling Jax at 253-851-5599.

Owner hopes environmental efforts inspire others
SHANNON SCHRECENGOST
Special to the Gateway
Peninsula Gateway, April 18, 2007

Jack Call, owner of Gig Harbor's Jax Hair and Intrigues, has teamed with Aveda Salons to support environmental programs locally and worldwide.

April is Earth Month, and Jax Hair and Intrigue, an Aveda concept salon, is partnering with Aveda products to raise money. According to Aveda, its network has donated more than $6 million to various organizations since Earth Month campaigns began in 1999.

Call's salon is doing its fair share. During April, Jax will offer Earth Month candles for $10 each. All proceeds will go to a variety of clean-water projects worldwide. Call also has pledged $10 in matching funds for every candle sold.

Call encourages people to donate to Columbia Riverkeeper, a non-profit citizens group that works to protect the water quality of the Columbia River. Customers can participate by adding a donation to their salon bill at the end of their visit. Call has promised to match those donations, as well.

"My goal is to make $500 for each cause," Call said. "All the money is going to really important work, like cleaning up industry pollution and improving salmon runs."

Call's son and daughter both work in the salon, adding a unique family feel to the business and extending a family tradition.

"I grew up in this industry," Call said. "I used to hang out in my mother's salon. The women would chat, drink coffee and smoke cigarettes. It's a little different now."

Call's mother owned three salons in the Tacoma area. He was on the payroll as early as 13 years old. He received world-class training with Sassoon and also worked Matrix hair shows to hone his skills.

In 1982, Call opened his first salon in Tacoma, called Jax 6th Ave. In the late 1980s, he opened his second shop in Lakewood. But after a stressful divorce, Call sold both shops and moved to Hawaii for a hair-cutting hiatus.

When he returned to the West Coast, he began making house calls for his clients. In doing so, he realized that most of his clientele lived in the Gig Harbor area. He soon moved to a Gig Harbor campground and began living in a trailer.

Jax Hair and Intrigues opened in 1992. Call's local clients are happy to have him around, and even those who commute to see him say the drive is worth it.

"I have been coming to Jack for the past 25 years," said Kathy Ot-ness, a Fircrest resident who periodically makes the trip across the Narrows bridge. "I have really built a relationship here. I watched his kids grow up."

Call strives to build such relationships with all of his customers.

"Human touch is involved in this industry," Call said. "There has to be a great deal of respect amongst professional and client. Relationships are critical to understanding what the client wants and making them happy."

Call mentors his professionally trained staff.

"I get my hair done by Natalie," University Place resident Peggy Dooley said. "I used to come all the way from Vancouver, Wash. to get my hair done. I have just never found anywhere as welcoming as this shop. I highly recommend it." Store owner Jack Call is honoring earth month by matching candle purchases with $10 donations to clean-water projects.

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