The Snippery Offers a Skilled Eye and Ear for Hair Style

Gina is an artist. The longtime owner of The Snippery, a hair salon on Washington Street in Braintree, Gina has designed headstones, exhibited her photographs and drawings, and produced jewelry. 

But her overriding passion is hair styling. The compulsion to paint or draw can come and go with moods, but Gina says she is always happy to help someone with their hair.

Marcia Boland, a Stoughton resident, met Gina 20 years ago when she won a makeover in a raffle for the hospice organization where she was a volunteer.

The care Gina takes with her clients and her generosity with all kinds of charities, and especially with cancer patients, has kept Boland coming back to The Snippery for decades.

"I don't let anyone else touch my hair," Boland said. "It gets to be like you're family."

Patch features questions with business owners every Monday. See The Snippery interview below.

What did you do before?

As a high school student at Quincy Vocational, Gina worked for a company drawing for catalogs with pen and ink. She also attended post-grad courses at the school for three years, focusing on commercial art.

At the time she also began cutting hair. She would cut girls' hair in the bathroom, to the chagrin of a teacher or two. Her clients were students with long hair who were afraid to get a cut by a professional, worried that they would lose much more hair than they wanted. 

"I got a reputation for listening," Gina said.

When did you open?

Gina opened a salon in Quincy 25 years ago. About eight years later, she moved to her current location, a multi-tenant building at 654 Washington St. 
How many hairstylists work for you?

Two – Amanda Tanck and Nancy O'Brien.

Tanck recently graduated from Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy, part of the Braintree location's first graduating class. She has been working for and learning from Gina for 10 years, though, and was an experienced hair stylist going into the academy.

Gina is also looking for someone, either part- or full-time, to fill a chair who has an existing client base.

What sets your salon apart?

Gina is serious about helping others. She donates gift certificates to just about any local cause that asks, from Braintree schools and Braintree After School Enrichment to pet rescue organizations and cancer fundraisers.

Gina also specializes in in helping people who have experienced hair loss, due to chemotherapy or other illness, achieve better results with the wigs or hair pieces that are available. She will clear out the salon and bring patients in, giving them time and privacy to select the perfect hair style and color.

The Snippery also works with donors to Locks of Love, non-profit that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical problems.

What are your specialties?

Gina started doing makeovers 20 years ago, when they were not as well-known. Her background in art and design allows Gina to know intuitively, based on factors such as face and head shape and hair texture, what hair style and color will look good on someone.

"I believe it's a gift from above, I'm very blessed," she said.

Gina also does razor cuts and a brush-to-brush technique not found at every salon that involves two brushes and scissors being used simultaneously. It leaves a client with a more natural, less rigid cut.

"I wanted to do something everyone else couldn't do," Gina said. "You can get stagnant in this industry. I believe in constantly learning."

How has the industry changed over the years?

Years ago, pre-dating much of Gina's career, many more people had standing appointments, say every Friday afternoon. Today clients call last-minute, trying to fit an appointment into the chaos of their life. Gina works with them as best she can, especially loyal and longtime clients.

Hair products have also changed over the years. There are a lot more organic and limited-chemical products available, a shift that Gina said she appreciates.

Who cuts your hair?

"I do," Gina said. She does as much of it as she can, with Amanda pitching in with guidance from her mentor.

"I don't trust hairdressers," Gina said, half-jokingly. 

What's new at The Snippery?

The salon is currently offering specials for first-time clients.

First-time clients who see Amanda for Keratin treatment, extensions and blonding will receive 40 percent off. All other services with her will be 50 percent off for first-timers.

All services with Gina are currently 50 percent off for first-time clients.
What is your favorite part of your work?
Both Gina and Amanda said their favorite part of the day is when they show a client the finished look in the mirror. The expression on their face is priceless, Amanda said.

When Gina does makeovers, she often keeps the client's gaze away from the mirror until the end, and then they are astonished at the change, tearing up or offering a hug.

If you could change one thing in town to make it easier for small businesses, what would that be?

Like many small business owners Patch has interviewed for this series, Gina said her first priority would be to relax sign restrictions. Visibility is an issue for The Snippery in particular because it is within a multi-tenant building and has limited space for its sign.

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