Hills Hair Design hairdressers close shop at Baulkham Hills Arcade
BAULKHAM HILLS hairdressers Peter and Sylvia Rajic have kept up with trends from big perms, mullets and contemporary coifs for more than 40 years.
Hills Shire
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BAULKHAM HILLS hairdressers Peter and Sylvia Rajic have kept up with trends from big perms, mullets and contemporary coifs for more than 40 years.
Now the pair will hang up blowdryers wands and close Hills Hair Design at Baulkham Hills Arcade.
They decided to consign the scissors to the history draw so Mrs Rajic, 57, could concentrate on treatment for her non hodgkin’s follicular lymphoma, with which she was diagnosed with three years ago.
The stoic stylist is applying the same positive attitude to her health challenge that she has flexed for much of her career.
“I deal with it quite well,’’ she said.
“A lot of people say ‘You don’t look sick’. Being in business, you have to put up with a lot of stuff. It’s not easy running a business, especially during the recession. It was very hard but we did it, we kept it going.’’
The couple met as apprentice hairdressers at Burwood. Mr Rajic started working at the Baulkham Hills shop in 1977, bought it in 1980 and Sylvia joined in 1986.
They wed 30 years ago and have run the Old Northern Rd salon while raising their now children Anthony and Sonja. Working with your spouse is not for everyone but the Rajics made it work.
“A lot of people have told us ‘I don’t know how you do it’,’’ Mrs Rajic said.
“I think we know our place in the salon.
the specialty in cutting, my specialty was styling updos and weddings. We never had major issues.”
The salon has seen customers leave with Farrah Fawcett-esque flicks in the 1970s, perms in the ‘80s, tamer tresses and foils in the ‘90s and 21st century customers sporting straight strands.
“Definitely the ‘70s was my favourite look,’’ Mrs Rajic said. “It was beautiful ... it was very elegant.’’
Despite home styling becoming more popular, Mrs Rajic knew it was vital to keep learning and stay with the trends.
“I believe to be a good hairdresser you should be able to do anything,’’ she said.
“If someone said ‘Can you do something’, it would be embarrassing not to be able to do it. We were very passionate to learn everything.
“We’re very particular hairdressers. Because we’ve been doing it so long we like to give them attention.’’
The couple will miss their customers and lending their support.
“We’re counsellors for sure,’’ Mrs Rajic said.
“It’s an interesting experience for both of us, learning about everyone, that’s what we’re going to miss — listening to people.
“We would send them flowers. Listening to problems and issues has been a big thing but we’re very passionate people.
“We never neglected our clients. We never came in late or anything — we’re grateful for everyone.”