By Kate Bartlett
Rachel LaValle Galati is owner and stylist of The Vintage Hairpin, one of the newest salons to open in Ellicottville. Located at 23 Jefferson Street, formerly Ava Grace Fashions, this is the second location with the original at 13 South Water Street in Gowanda. With a hippy chic vibe, the salon offers a fresh boutique approach with personalized services.
Between the 2 salons, Rachel’s family has 3 generations of stylists. Her mother managed the original location and her daughter, Liza, recently obtained her cosmetology license and runs the spa services in Ellicottville. With 28 years of experience, Rachel enjoys being able to share this passion with her daughter. “It’s fun working alongside my daughter and sharing our experiences together. I’ve been fortunate to watch her grow and develop into an amazing stylist,” says Rachel.
Both locations are full amenity hair salons and boutique spas offering hair cutting and styling, coloring (including balayage, foiling and fantasy colors like red, green, purple, etc), manicures, pedicures, facials and more. The salon is available for wedding parties and special events. The vibe in Ellicottville is similar to their original Gowanda location, with casual vintage décor in a warm welcoming atmosphere. The décor is bohemian/hippy complete with throw-back old record crates in an intimate boutique setting.
Having opened in Spring this year, Rachel is grateful to have been warmly welcomed by the community. “We’ve already met and established a great clientele and we’re incredibly grateful.”
The Vintage Hairpin has enjoyed participating in community events including Ladies Day, Mardi Gras and Fall Fest. For Ladies Day, the salon hosted guests for meet and greets providing hair tinsel services along with a sprinkling of retail jewelry, soaps and other fun finds. Mardi Gras featured homemade Jambalaya, refreshments and giveaways. Rachel is always looking for a fun way to get involved in the community, and brings her own flair to whatever she does.
Rachel has been involved in the local community in a variety of ways; as a Gowanda resident and growing up with her mother’s salon in Ellicottville. “My parents had a salon on Martha Street. It was always our intent for me to manage this location. My dad fell ill and passed, so this never came to fruition as we had intended. I guess it never really left my heart, which is why it felt only natural to open a second location here in Ellicottville.”
As a gifted vocalist, Rachel has been in the music scene throughout Ellicottville for over 10 years, playing with Barnstorm and her own band, IronLace. The band is currently on break, but she is still doing acoustic with guitarist David Robbins and can be found at many local bars and restaurants.
Rachel and her team invite readers to stop out to visit The Vintage Hairpin at both locations. “We love meeting new people and trying new styles, steadily growing our clientele. We’re happy to give a tour and do a meet and greet before you book your first appointment.” Follow on Facebook and Instagram @TheVintageHairpin for updates and promotions, along with their latest events.