Just open on Doctors Drive in Bridgeport, B&H Beauty Collective offers hair color, cuts and styles to please. The new salon also features a collaborative effort of Brittany Kemmerer and Haley Helmick, stylists who have worked together for the past decade.

“I had Studio BK in Clarksburg for 11 years and Haley was with me for 10 of those years,” Kemmerer said. “I’ve been dragging my feet about moving to Bridgeport. It’s been such a long process of moving. I decided to ask Haley to go in business together.”

Helmick said she and Kemmerer – both who live in Bridgeport – are a good team.

“We have worked together for so long, I feel like we just mesh well. We know what each other is thinking and we can finish each other’s sentences. I was super excited to get this opportunity. My end goal was having my own salon in Bridgeport.”

When they discovered that 103 Doctors Drive (the former offices of Dr. James Holehouse) was available, they jumped on it.

“When we saw it, we fell in love with the entryway and decided it was right for us that same day,” Kemmerer said. “There is also plenty of parking which is great.”

For Helmick, it was the front desk area which she felt made the whole space classy and professional.

Because the space needed very little work done, they were moved in within a month.

“It was pretty much move-in ready – and it is bigger than the last salon, so we have a few suites available to rent out,” Kemmerer said. “We’d like to get a barber in there and maybe a nail tech.”

A massage therapist and/or esthetician would also be good additions, Helmick said.

For now, B&K Collaborative does feature one additional hairstylist, Serena Croy, and a permanent makeup artist, Rachel Brown Wilson.

“She specializes in microblading and also does eyeliner, lip blushing and small tattooing as well,” Kemmerer said.

All three hairstylists offer cut, color and style services, including Keratin smoothing and Brazilian blowouts.

“We don’t do extensions, and we don’t do weddings,” Kemmerer said. “We pick and choose what we like to do.”

The hairstylists are booked about a month in advance.

Both Kemmerer and Helmick said that the opening day went well.

“There are little things that are hard to get used to when you’re in a new space after 11 years, but it did go great,” Kemmerer said.

She sends appreciation to all who have supported her shop over the past years. She has formed client relationships that are like family. The women likewise send appreciation to those who have supported their dream of opening a salon in Bridgeport.

Helmick started her stylist career at BK Beauty, starting with Kemmerer just out of beauty school. Her inspiration to become a hairstylist date back to her childhood.

“Ever since I was little, I loved all things hair and makeup – like doing it on my mom and sister and honestly I just like to make people feel beautiful and good about themselves,” she said.

Kemmerer said she, too, was inspired as a little girl.

“My aunt (Cindy Ware) was a hairstylist, and I grew up going to her salon and always wanted to do hair from spending so much time with her,” she said. “She originally worked at Style-O-Rama in downtown Clarksburg then the Room of Hair and Nails in North View.

Kemmerer, Helmick and Croy (pictured left; left to right) all work various weekdays with Croy also working some Saturdays and Brown working most days.

To make an appointment, stop at the salon or call (304) 623-5300.