New downtown salon to open this summer

Tanya Gourd is bringing her unique salon business to downtown Fort Scott this summer.

The former Kansas City resident, a hair stylist for the last 16 years, said Wednesday she hopes to open up the Bella Vita Salon at 118 E. Wall St., by July. The space which her new business will occupy is now freshly painted and bare, but Gourd said she hopes to have all of her equipment, furniture, and other materials needed to operate the business moved into the building by July 29 for an open house event.

Gourd said she has wanted to open her own beauty salon for many years.

"My mom owned a salon her whole life and that's what I wanted to do," she said.

Gourd attended the Mission Beauty Academy in Kansas City after high school, and later graduated from the Fort Scott Community College School of Cosmetology before earning a state cosmetology license.

A unique aspect of Gourd's business is that not only will she be providing services for customers at the salon, she will also provide salon services after business hours for people who are unable to leave their homes, people who are trying to keep up with very busy lifestyles, or people who are unable to travel to the salon, in order to make the service or services more convenient for the customer. Gourd said she will provide salon services at a customer's home by appointment only.

She will also help people who are preparing for wedding photos, senior photos, and other personal events.

"I think it's unique in that not a lot of salons offer this type of service," she said.

Gourd said she enjoys her profession primarily for the opportunity it gives her to meet new people.

"I know it sounds cheesy, but I like to meet new people," she said. "I like the atmosphere."

Services that Gourd said she will soon offer include hair styling, facials, makeup application, body wraps, and a tanning bed, the latter of which Gourd said she plans to have available by August. By the end of the year, Gourd said she also plans to have a computerized program available at her business that will allow customers to upload photographs of themselves to a computer and view them before choosing the hairstyle they prefer.

"A lot of people may not know what looks best on them," she said. "This will help them before they decide."

Gourd said she also hopes to be able to soon offer hair products for pets.