east washington life
Meet The Owners of Legacy Hair Salon
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by Anthony D. Diallo
egina Deans “I remember doing one has seen and woman’s hair who’d walk accomplished up and down constantly on much in the Minnesota Avenue passing cosmetology the shop several times. Her field. She and the two cofamily wouldn’t trust her owners of Legacy Hair Salon with money because of her have a combined 55 years in addiction and would somethe hairstyling business. times pay me later for doing “I have seen a lot of peoher hair. She needed (that ple come and go. This (cosshampoo, cut, and style) to metology business) is 80 feel beautiful and whole,” percent business and 20 perDeans said emphatically. cent talent. It is not for evDeans has counseled Left to right Owners and staff of Legacy Hair Salon: Aleashia “Lynn” Warren, Demetra “DeeDee” Rhone (owner), Sharon erybody. If you’re not puncone or two customers sufDrake, Regina Deans (owner), and Yvette Chandler (owner). tual, dedicated, or have good fering from alopecia—a concustomer service, you are dition that causes premature dler who only works in the salon on Saturdays. During the not going to last,” said Deans from the confines of the sabaldness. She encourages those clients to seek medical atweek she maintains her longtime federal government job lon where she has been a fixture since 2013. tention from a dermatologist while determining the best at DoD as a Program Manager. treatment plan. Extensive weight gain, illnesses like diabetes, and even turbulent mood swings can detrimentally What Makes Legacy Special affect people’s hair, Deans warned. Client Connections The salon, located at 2219 Minnesota Ave.) got its name Like a bartender, therapist, and even perhaps a priest, Deans has approximately 100 regular clients that she sees after the three women – Deans, Yvette Chandler, and cosmetologists like Deans, have seen unusual occurrencon a rotating basis. She sees some customers just once a Demetra “DeeDee” Rhone – bought the shop in 2018 es and heard sordid tales while shampooing and styling a month, while others every two weeks, and a third portion from Pauline Jones, who was retiring. customer’s hair or recommending a specific beauty proweekly. Regardless of the frequency, Deans has established Ms. Jones wanted to keep the shop in the “family” cedure for a weave or wig. a rapport with all her clientele. and the three women decided to pool their money and The 53-year-old cosmetologist recalls, with a slight “I’ve become friends with many of my clients. I have buy the salon, so Jones would not have to sell to a “comshiver, when a married hairstylist (no longer employed at attended their birthday parties, weddings, and anniversaplete stranger.” Deans, who is the majority owner, manthe salon) started dating her client’s husband. Deans canries. I think the relationship I have of providing this serager, and a full-time hairstylist, owns 40 percent of the not say when the awkward love triangle ended because the vice of uplifting a woman’s spirit is extremely important,” business while the other two owners each have a 30 perclient stopped frequenting the salon after she learnt about said Deans who also grew up in Ward 7 at the now defunct cent share. the affair and the hairstylist later departed. East Capital Dwellings projects and got her love for cosChandler emphasized that the name of the hair salon “I go to Legacy Hair Salon because of one young metology as a high school student at Paul Laurence Dunwas inspired by the success and influence of three previlady named Sharon Drake. She shas been doing my hair bar Senior High School. ous owners and the fact that three women united to own since she was 16 years old. She is just a wonderful hairRealizing how important well-maintained hair is to and operate the shop. stylist. The salon is always clean, they’re not overpriced, a woman’s self-esteem, she has given heavily discounted “Legacy is special because it gives back to the comthey still do social distancing, and for me they are conveservices to women who were going through a traumatic munity including men and especially helps uplift womnient,” said satisfied customer Joyce Smith, 70, a retired situation such as loss of income, divorce, and even menen of color in (Ward 8 and East of the River),” said ChanEmployee Development Specialist living in Penn Branch tal instability. 28
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