Via Community News Service, in partnership with Vermont State University Castleton.
After having worked at local salons in Rutland, in 1993, Mary Anne Diefendorf was a new mom and hoping to work somewhere that was a better fit for her newly changed schedule.
The previous owner of Special Effects salon in Castleton gave her a call asking to come join the salon, and she hasn’t looked back since.
“I really liked the Castleton area, so I said ‘This is where I want to be’” Diefendorf said in a recent interview.
In 1996, Special Effects was ready to change ownership. Diefendorf was approached to purchase the business and after a push of encouragement from her husband, she took over as owner.
“I didn’t imagine I would do it, but I’ve been doing it!” said Diefendorf.
“And we’re very blessed,” said Kathy Traverse, stylist at Special Effects for 27 years.
Special Effects stays true to its roots by providing cuts and colors as some of its most popular services. Diefendorf added that while they offer perms, they tend to not be the “thing” right now.
The salon’s clientele spans a wide range of individuals, from those in their 90s to kids getting their first-ever haircut. They provide services to Castleton community members, neighbors, and VTSU Castleton college students, as well as clients from further away like Rutland, Wallingford, and even Huletts Landing, New York.
In the summer, when Castleton students head home for three months, the clientele shifts to seasonal people staying on nearby Lake Bomoseen.
But Diefendorf said much of her love for their spot in Castleton is due to the closeness to campus and the lake.
“Our clients, they’re our friends. Some of them have been here as long as we have. They become part of your family. They become another grandmother, grandfather, parent or sibling,” she said.
One client of Special Effects is Helen Mango, a longtime client of Traverse and Natural Science professor at VTSU-Castleton.
“I’ve been going there as long as she’s been there. I started with somebody before her and she left and Kathy came and I just moved over to her,” Mango said.
After being a client of Traverse for over 20 years, Mango recalls how a client and stylist relationship is truly special.
“It’s so friendly, and the people are so nice. They get to know you. She cut my husband’s hair and she used to do my kid’s hair when they were still in high school … It’s a family affair. It’s sweet because she always asks after my girls. It’s been nice watching the families grow,”
Deifendorf also has many clients, all leaving lasting impressions on her. One in particular was a seasonal client who lived on the lake in her 90’s.
“She would come in once a week for a shampoo and set and then I would put her hair in a French twist for the whole week. We got a frost in the fall before she left to go home. She drove over with her head out the window the whole way to get her hair done because she didn’t have a scraper. She was determined to get here no matter what. She was not gonna miss her appointment. She was just the sweetest, spunkiest lady,” Diefendorf said
Special Effects currently has four stylists including Diefendorf, Traverse, longtime stylist Tammy Arruda, and daughter-in-law Hannah Diefendorf.
“She has happy stylists that work for her… I think what makes this salon work really well is that we are all friends, not just coworkers. Mary, she is our boss and owner, but she is more a friend and that makes the business really good for employees to have someone special,” Traverse said.
Diefendorf said more space for another sink, chair, and extra stylist would be helpful, but her storefront in town is ideal and perfect for their needs.
Special Effects is a completely offline establishment, with no website or Facebook page, and scheduling is done manually in a book at the front desk.
Keeping up as a small business offline has been one of the harder challenges for the salon.
“I didn’t grow up with that, so it’s something I’ve had to learn… What happens if the computer goes down in the morning? I don’t have a Facebook page. I think it can be really great but I also think it can be really bad. I see what people write sometimes and it’s just, no thanks,” Diefendorf said.
While the salon spent much of 2020 closed during the pandemic, Diefendorf and her stylists saw an opportunity to do some refreshing and remodeling to the interior. They saw closure as the perfect opportunity to create change without having to close their doors to customers during a busy time.
Diefendorf and Traverse attribute the remodel of the salon as a positive that came out of the shutdown.
“It’s just a friendly place. They’re very professional. Very clean and neat, but warm and welcoming at the same time,” Mango said.
Looking at the future for Special Effects there is no step-by-step plan in place.
“We’re all getting to the age where it’s going to be changing. I don’t have any plans. I think we’re just going to have to do it together. Whatever works for all of us. It’s hard work. It’s hard work on your body,” said Diefendorf.
“And your mind. Your mind has to be staying so focused,” said Traverse.
Diefendorf has advice for those interested in opening their own salon or small business.
“Just go in with your whole heart and trust your instincts. It’s hard work,” she said.