CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – It has been a busy month for the Ruby Beauty Company (42 S. Main St.). Since they opened their doors on Oct. 10, they have participated in AppleFest and Main Street’s trick-or-treating event. Now they are preparing for their official ribbon-cutting ceremony that will be held on Nov. 18.

According to owner and master stylist Jes Lahr, the Ruby Beauty Company (often referred to simply as “the Ruby”) does all things hair: cutting, coloring, highlighting, balayage, up-dos, blow outs, treatments and more for women, men and children. The salon has four stylists and two desk managers. A lash and brow tech will be joining them soon.

The Ruby also carries specialty gift items including jewelry, stationary, candles, bath salts, tea and tea accessories, and tarot-related items. The products are made in America by woman-owned businesses, and Lahr favors hand-crafted items whenever possible.

When Lahr was 17, she moved to Philadelphia to attend art school. After a year or two, she realized that the art part was for her, but not so much the school. She began doing freelance makeup and decided to go to beauty school. It was here that she found her calling.

“As soon as I started the training, it was pretty apparent that it had all of the same elements: color theory, shape and form,” said Lahr. “It’s all the same whether it’s sculpture or art or hair. I was good at it, so I never did anything else. I like doing hair.” 

She eventually reached a point in her career where she was fully booked. She had 20 years of experience, and she had worked at about a half dozen salons. Unless she was going to raise her prices or work more hours, there was nowhere for her to grow.

“So that’s when I decided to go into my own business,” said Lahr.

For Lahr, the space at 42 S. Main St. was the obvious choice.

“We like to be a part of the community,” said Lahr about the Ruby Beauty Company’s support of other downtown businesses including sharing their social media posts and buying lots of iced coffees. 

She envisions her customers making full use of the restaurants and shops on Main Street while they have a quarter in the meter. Specifically, she mentioned two clients who had scheduled appointments together. “They’re going to do lunch first, and then shopping and drinks after.”

She added: “I think what’s good for one business is good for all of them.” 

The Ruby Beauty Company is active on Facebook and Instagram, and they have a TikTok where they feature “behind the scenes antics.” The individual stylists also maintain their own social media presences where they can develop their own portfolios.

Lahr explained that the other stylists at the Ruby Beauty Company are at the age when she initially discovered her own passion. 

“They’re starting to build those relationships with their clients that I have had with mine,” said Lahr.

Clients can make appointments through any of those social media channels as well as through their website where customers can check out prices and schedule appointments based on time slot and stylist.

Chris Whiteway has been coming to Lahr for 15 years. She and her husband (who was getting a trim at the time of this interview) had traveled a lot so she was always starting over fresh with new stylists. That changed when her co-workers recommended that she go see Lahr.

“I trust her to do what she does,” said Whiteway of the client/stylist rapport they have developed.

Until recently, Whiteway had kept her hair short and colored, which required regular maintenance. When she let it grow out and into its natural color, Lahr was able to guide the transition.

This was Whiteway’s first visit to the downtown space. 

“We don’t really have a lot of experience with doing things on Main Street, so now that we’re down here, we might try some other things and look around,” said Whiteway. “Now that we’re retired, we can go check it out.”

Lahr expressed a desire to keep both her clients and the other stylists happy.

“We make people look great, and when people look good, they feel good,” said Lahr.

She added: “I feel like I know when I’ve done a good job as a hair stylist when the client leaves really happy, and I feel like I’m doing a good job as a business owner because we love coming to work.”

The coziness of the salon with its couch and chairs isn’t just for customers waiting to take their turn. The stylists tend to stop in to hang out even when aren’t on the clock. During the interview with Lahr, two stylists were laughing while decorating the salon’s black Christmas tree. 

Which explains their catch-phrase:

“Meet me at the Ruby.”