Lawyering with style

LACONIA — "The law is my profession," said Lori Chandler, a former assistant Belknap County Attorney who now practices at Westcott, Dyer, Fitzgerald & Nichols, then casting her eyes around the beauty salon she declared "but this is my passion."

Chandler recently acquired the Hair Affair on Canal Street, the salon operated for the past 40 years by Paul Maheux. "We're going to keep things as they are," she said. "They've worked all these years. Paul is a legend."

To ensure continuity Maheux and his team of stylists will remain, together providing a century of experience at the salon. Maheux explained "I'm going to work part-time to help her out." Rosemary Murphy, who has worked with Maheux for the past 29 years, called him "a good friend and a great boss," adding that "I'm sure Lori will be the same way and we'll be working together for the future."

Sue King, a veteran of 17 years, described Deb Luff, whose mother worked at the salon for 28 years, as "the baby" of the group with only a decade at the salon. "Why leave when we have a good thing going?" asked Luff.

"The only addition is me," said Chandler a licensed cosmetologist since 1996, who will take her turn washing, cutting, coloring, styling and setting hair as as well as offering perdicures and manicures. However, Chandler will bring Sharon Simons, a part-time security officer at the Laconia District Court, to the salon where she will serve as a receptionist and assist with scheduling.

Chandler has long had a hankering to own and operate a beauty salon. A native of Poughkeepsie, New York, she graduated from Marist College in 1993 and three years later from Richard 1 School of Beauty and Culture. For two years she worked in the salon at J.C. Penney's in Poughkeepsie before moving to New Hampshire to pursue her professional goal at Franklin Pierce Law School. While studying law, Chandler never abandoned her passion, cutting enough hair and setting enough perms to maintain her license.

After being admitted to the New Hampshire Bar in 2002, Chandler went to work as a prosecutor first in Carroll County and then in Belknap County. She recalled that five years ago, when she and some friends drew up "bucket lists" — things they wanted to do before "kicking the bucket" — she listed owning a beauty salon, qualifying as a nurse and becoming a drummer.

"I determined to have a salon within 10 years," Chandler said. "Then in June, on a Thursday night I had a dream about it." When she awoke the next morning, she went to the computer to search for salons for sale in and around Laconia and found the Hair Affair. Right away she contacted Kevin Sullivan, a real estate broker Coldwell Banker Commercial, and later the same day met with Maheux. "Within days I had put down a deposit and we closed on August 30," she said. In the meantime, Chandler worked in the shop from time to time between meeting with clients and appearing in court.

"I don't plan any major changes," Chandler stressed. "We want to fulfill and exceed the expectations of Paul's dedicated clientele and attract new customers. We intend to extend our business hours to Saturdays by appointment while welcoming walk-ins and above all, will keep our competitive prices. Paul's traditions have worked very well."

Chandler said that she will continue to practice law, handling a mix of family, landlord-tenant and criminal defense cases while putting in her time at the salon."This is my passion," she repeated.

"When you get into this," said Luff. "It's not work. You're making people feel good."

CAPTION:

The team at the Hair Affair on Canal Street marked a change of ownership with a party yesterday. From left stylists Rosemary Murphy, Deb Luff and Sue King, welcomed Lori Chandler, who purchased the salon begun by Paul Maheux, and his wife Betty-Jeanne to her right, forty years ago. "Paul was 41 when he began," Chandler said, "and I'm 41." (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Michael Kitch)