PITTSTON TWP. — Growing up on Laurel Street, it was only fitting Lisa Borthwick’s profession would take her back to her childhood stomping grounds.
The 36-year-old Dupont resident now co-owns a hair salon with husband Derryn, 38, formerly of Hughestown, called Alexlar Salon in a suite in the Laurel Plaza, which is on the same road as Lisa’s childhood home.
“We wanted to keep it local and give back to the community,” said Derryn. “We know a lot of people in the area… so when we decided to do the business we wanted to do something local.”
The name Alexlar is a combination of the first two names of the couple’s daughters — Alexys, 12, and Skylar, 11.
The salon has been open since December and offers haircuts, perms, hair coloring, highlighting, waxing, smoothing treatments, recovery treatments and more. Manicures are currently not available, but may be in the future, said Lisa.
Alexlar Salon takes appointments and walk-ins.
Lisa is currently the only employee, but she’s currently accepting applications for more help.
A Pittston Area High School graduate, Lisa has been in the cosmetology field for over 16 years and graduated from the former Academy of Creative Hair Design in Edwardsville.
After she earned her degree, she worked at Malcolm’s Haircuts in Luzerne and then JC Penney in Wilkes-Barre Township before deciding to open her own salon.
“(Cosmetology) was something I always wanted to do ever since I was little,” she said. “I just had the passion for doing hair, makeup and nails. It was easy for me to learn it.”
Keeping up with today’s latest fashion trends has kept Lisa on her toes, but she is not afraid to try something new.
“You just have to constantly be educated and always looking for that new thing that’s out there,” she said. “You just have to be creative, learn new techniques, and just constantly researching.”
Derryn works for FedEx, but also handles the finances for Alexlar Salon.
He is also responsible for the interior design of the business — Derryn did all of the interior work himself, except for the electricity and plumbing, with a little help from his daughters.
Because the interior stemmed from his imagination, Derryn feels it makes the salon more unique than others.
“It’s definitely one-of-a-kind,” he said. “Everything came from my head, and that’s what we try to offer — something different.”
Alexlar Salon has become a family business — Lisa said her daughters help out sometimes by sweeping hair and washing towels.
She said Skylar has already expressed interest in joining the field.
Helping out is just part of the family’s persona.
“We feel pretty luck to be able to open this business, especially in Lisa’s hometown,” said Derryn. “We donate to Little Leagues, local churches and we’re just trying to give back what we can.”
