Salon owner follows her 'hair-itage'

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Newcastle native Crystal Benson, returning to her hometown after several years away, has opened the Luxe Salon at 109 W. Main Street, following what she calls her “hair-itage.” 
Benson recalled falling in love with hair and beauty at a young age while sitting at her grandma’s kitchen table. She also recalled doing her best friend’s (Danielle James) hair after their bike rides. 
But hair wasn’t just an early love for Benson, it was in her blood, she said. 
“I just love it. It is in my blood, and now it is my passion,” Benson said.
She pointed to the wall that shares her “hair-itage” with her clients. 
“This is my heritage, or you could say my hair-itage,” she said. “My grandma [Betty Jean Tavegia Lewis]  was a beautician, and my dad [Rick Pillen] was a barber. I am a third generation in the business, and I can truly say I love this with all my heart.” 
According to Benson, her grandmother opened her shop on Main Street, almost directly across from the building housing the Luxe Salon. But even more special to Benson is the fact that she has opened her business in the same place where her father cut hair for five years. 
“It was really important to be literally right where my father was; I cried when I heard it was available,” Benson said. 
But hair and beauty weren’t always the career choice for Benson. 
“I think I always wanted to do this. In fact, I know I have,” Benson said. “When I graduated high school, I had a young family and driving was not an option, so I took the online schooling route.” 
Becoming a teacher was the best route at that time, Benson said. After receiving her degree and working as a substitute teacher for years, Benson and her family moved to Glenrock, where she taught for five years. 
“It is probably one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. I had just gotten tenure and loved my principal and colleagues,” Benson said. “I often asked, ‘Should I stay or should I go?’ But when I got pregnant with kid No. 4, it was an easier choice and I decided to stay home, because let’s be real, who can pay for day care.” 
The choice was a blessing in disguise, Benson said, because son Thatcher was born with an autoimmune disease and the family had to travel often to see doctors in Denver. 
As time went on, and Thatcher was old enough for part-time preschool, Benson decided to go to cosmetology school in Casper. 
“I didn’t really anticipate any career direction, but I am thankful I did it. I love going to school, and I love learning. The more I got into it, the more I went to school, the more I truly fell in love with the field,” Benson said. “It wasn’t just something I enjoyed; it became my passion. I love the job, and I love the people I get to work with.” 
Benson said that she also loves the ability to access continuing education to broaden her scope of work and the techniques she uses. 
“It quenches my thirst for knowledge and was the perfect job to combine my two passions — knowledge, teaching and beauty. I am constantly teaching my clients, and so I am kind of a teacher, only in a different realm,” Benson said. 
After completing school, Benson’s husband, Aaron, took a job at Fiddle Back Trucking, bringing the family back to Newcastle. The move gave her the opportunity to open her shop on June 1 in the same building where her father once worked. 
“I was born and raised here, so it was a sigh of relief coming home. Everything works out for a reason; you just have to trust job. He will put you where you are meant to be. That is something I have learned from this experience, even though I was nervous to come back home,” Benson said. 
Having her parents close, to enjoy her children — Ayla, 15; Parker, 13; McCall, 6; and Thatcher, 3 — is the best, according to Benson. She also loves having her parents a phone call away to help her in her times of need. 
“It is really good to be home and I am so grateful we made the decision now,” Benson said. “You don’t realize what you have until it’s gone.”
Benson is accepting all new clients, anyone and everyone, at the Luxe Salon, 109 W. Main Street. Appointments can be made online by visiting her website at myluxesalon.weebly.com or her Facebook page at @luxesalonnewcastle. She can also be reached at 941-0676 for appointments or questions.