Business Spotlight

The Shine Salon and Wellness staff (l-r): hairstylists Ashleigh Otis, Amanda Faunce, Annastascia Simpson, Rachel Leck, Hannah Crosby, and nail technician Monique Ros.

Missing from the photo are Justina Beaulieu (reiki master) and Rachel Perez (health coach)

Photo: Denise Bernier

Shine Salon and Wellness: More Than Just Hair and Nails

By Jenna Smith, Grade 7 – St. Thomas School

As a child, Rachel Leck knew that she wanted to do something creative with her life. Whether she was babysitting or just at home, she always found herself doing people’s hair or painting their nails. She knew that traditional schooling wasn’t for her, and her need to do something hands-on led her to explore the beauty industry. She enrolled in classes in Massachusetts with the dream of opening her own salon.

Opening a business was not a foreign concept for Leck. She had come from a family of entrepreneurs, and her father owned his own contracting business. Growing up, Leck knew that it took hard work to start a business and maintain it. She knew that it was not easy, but she was determined to follow in her father’s footsteps. Today, Leck is the proud owner of Shine Salon and Wellness, located at 649 Main St. in Springvale, a building she purchased three years ago.

March 28 marked the eight-year anniversary of Shine Salon and Wellness. When the business first opened its doors in 2016, it was called Shine Hair & Nails, reflecting the main focus of its services. Over time, however, the business has grown and evolved to focus on the health and wellbeing of its clients, something that makes Leck extremely proud.

Shine now employs six hairstylists, a nail technician, and a reiki specialist. The business provides cutting, chemical, and color services, as well as treatments and specialty styling. They also provide a variety of additional services, including nail soak-off and repairs, facial waxing, and reiki, a method of energy healing. There are plans to include more wellness offerings in the near future. Meditation, yoga, and additional energy healing services are at the top of Leck’s list. 

Leck loves every aspect of her work, including supporting the community through various donations and fundraisers. She explains that her favorite part of the job, though, is talking to her clients and listening to them while styling their hair, knowing that she has positively impacted their day. The salon is a safe space, and the comfortable and meaningful relationships she forms with her clients make her work extremely rewarding. 

Leck invites the community to experience all that Shine has to offer. She and her staff can be reached by calling 207-850-1083 or by visiting the business’s Facebook page: facebook.com/shinesalon1.