2nd Ave Hair says goodbye to Niwot after 24 years

The quiver in Nancy Armstrong's voice tells the story. She knows it's time. But she is still struggling with her choice to close the hair salon she's owned in Niwot for nearly a quarter of a century.

"I'm sad about leaving Niwot. It's been a very, very hard decision," said Armstrong. "It's just a cool little town. It's been really good for me, and to me, for 24 years."

A lot has changed since 2nd Ave Hair Studio first opened its doors. For years, she had a contingent of ladies who came in every week, their hair in fat, pink rollers as they thumbed magazines under the giant helmets that dried their hair. She'd back comb, fluff, spray and send them on their way. Back they'd come the next week.

"Come hell or high water they were in your salon every week. Nothing stopped them," said Armstrong.

Now, most of her clients come every month or six weeks for cuts, perms or color. "We are a little more independent and we can do our own hair now weekly. I don't think people take that much pride in their hair as much anymore."

2nd Ave Hair is right on the main drag of Niwot where Armstrong used to get a lot of foot traffic. That slowed down over the years, even before the coronavirus pandemic temporarily closed so many businesses.

"We don't have retail anymore. All we seem to have is pizza and real estate. We don't have the restaurants we used to have. It was just busy all the time," she said. "It is almost eerie now. It's really sad."

And then there is the cost of doing business, which has steadily gone up. "Expenses are just eating me alive," she said. "They're just out of sight. Rent in Niwot is ridiculous, product, insurance, utilities--everything has gone up except our prices."

Armstrong takes with her memories of the Niwot parades that her business used to be part of and her unique window into what was happening in a small town. But she'll keep the most important asset she's ever had--her customers.

"I'm retirement age, but I'm not ready to hang it up yet," she said. She's going to continue cutting hair, just at a different salon. She'll have a seat at Cutter's Edge in Gunbarrel. Her 2nd Ave stylists are going with her.

The venue will be different, but conversations she's had during thousands of haircuts will continue as they always have, under the apron, scissors in hand, eyes connecting through a mirror.

"They start as customers, and they end up being really good friends. They've heard about my kids growing up and I've heard about their kids and grandkids growing up," she said, grateful for her loyal customer base that has helped her through difficult times in her life. Like when she was in a life-threatening motorcycle accident six years ago.

"Stopped at a stoplight and a lady hit me from behind going 55 miles per hour in her van. It was up in Loveland. I had several more people working for me at that time. Everyone just pitched in and helped and my customers were wonderful. I came back to work after about six months. I couldn't have done it without the support of my friends, staff, customers and my family," said Armstrong, who chokes up thinking about it.

Thirteen screws remain in her leg. There are broken bones the doctors couldn't even fix. She has arthritis and other aches and pains. But she said she counts her blessings every day. "I'm glad to be here. I'm glad I can work and have a great life."

Armstrong is grateful that her customers still want to put their locks in her skilled hands. "I've been hearing from a lot of them. That makes me feel better," she said.

It may still be a while before salons are able to open up again due to the coronavirus restrictions. But once that happens and new protocols are in place, Armstrong will get back to doing what she does best.

"I think I listen to my customers and I try to please them. I try to get what they want. I'm not afraid to fail. So if they want to try something new, we'll try it," she said. But experience has taught her to also listen for what isn't said. "Sometimes what they're saying isn't what they really want. So you have to explain it to them before you do it so you don't end up with a disaster."

Change has its risks whether it's a hairstyle, closing a business or opening a new chapter of life. Armstrong is caught between emotions as she closes the salon that has been such an important part of her life.

"It doesn't feel real good. Nobody likes change, especially not me. I guess it's just time," she said as she tries to pivot away from the past and toward the future. "It will be nice to have a change. It's just time to close up and move on to the next chapter."