By Laurelle Walsh
Tucked behind the Purple Sage building in downtown Winthrop is a new hair salon called Studio 509.
Owner/stylist Phoebe Rudd, who opened Studio 509’s doors in October said, “the space has been evolving every day. It’s so much fun to find things that are me.”
Rudd said she had the “crazy idea” of opening her own salon in August, found the “ideal space,”and immediately began working with the landlord on a remodel.
“I was so happy to find it,” she said.
She likes that the salon, located at 245 Riverside Ave., is not right on the boardwalk because clients prefer not to be in the public eye while they’re getting their hair done. “I really don’t want to be a storefront,” she said. A private entrance, a covered porch and parking spaces behind the building make the salon accessible off the main street.
And with vintage Stan Getz on the turntable, sunshine pouring in the windows, and custom furniture made by her boyfriend to fit the space, the salon already feels like home, Rudd said. “I really like hanging out in here. I have the best river view in town,” she said.
Rudd describes herself as impulsive and outgoing, and while admitting that she moved quickly on the business said, “I feel like you just have to do things if you want to do them.”
Rudd grew up in San Diego, graduated from University of San Diego High School, and began beauty school at Paul Mitchell the School in 2004. After graduation, she began her career as a hair stylist at Diesel, one of San Diego’s top salons, she said.
After the economic downturn in 2009, Rudd decided it was time to see the world and lived as “a gypsy” for several years, backpacking throughout Asia and Central and South America, and trading haircuts for lodging and meals, she said.
“Everywhere I’ve gone I’ve brought my scissors with me,” she said.
Rudd met her boyfriend, Jake Miller, in Thailand, worked for a time in Alaska and then came with Miller to the Methow Valley, where she “fell in love with this place,” moving here full time in April 2013, she said.
“I want to bring something super fresh to the valley,” she said.
Continuing her education is important, said Rudd, who will be attending a haircutting class in Tacoma and a hair convention in Long Beach, California, in January. In the future she would like to do cut and color classes to become a L’oreal expert, she said.
Studio 509 features Seven Luxury Haircare products made in Seattle. “A lot of people in the valley will like it. It’s very hippy friendly,” Rudd said.
Rudd likes to have a thorough consultation before working on anyone’s hair, and said she tells her clients after the appointment: “Please live on this hair for a few days and call me if you need me to fix anything.”
Her philosophy of hair includes working with texture, not against it; being realistic about what a person’s hair will do; and helping clients look like themselves and be able to style their own hair. “I’m going to tell you if what you want to do is going to be a big process,” she said.
“Coloring is really fun for me,” said Rudd, who enjoys mixing custom color for each client. She is excited to offer balayage — a highlighting technique that involves painting onto the hair. “It’s really low maintenance and grows out really nice,” she said. “The hair looks like it is kissed by the sun in summertime.”
“I feel like I give high-end service with prices reasonable for the valley,” Rudd said. “I want people to be able to afford this.”
Studio 509 salon is open by appointment Monday-Wednesday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday; and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information, call (619) 200-6007, go to the website www.studio509salon.com, or Studio 509 on Facebook.
