KAPAA — Lisabeth Fletcher has been keeping people beautiful for two decades on Kauai.
Her Paradise Beauty Salon &Spa opened in Kapaa in 1998. Twenty years later, she continues to provide product lines for hair, skin and nails, now with a hairstyling station, clinical skincare room and manicure/pedicure area.
“We have of course a lot of local clients, because that’s what we were here to give them — all the spa services but not at the destination spa prices,” Fletcher said. “We have tons of visitors as well, and we do a lot of wedding parties. I would say it’s probably about 75 percent locals and the rest tourists.”
Fletcher grew up in Belgium, attended Antwerp International School, and was always helping friends with hair and makeup. So her mom sent her off to a class at its beauty college on weekends and one night a week. After high school, she went on to earn a three-year cosmetology degree at the school.
“The best part of my job is making people feel good about themselves,” Fletcher said. “It’s that instant gratification that we love.”
After the extensive training, Fletcher styled hair out of her house back in Laguna Beach, California, but wasn’t experiencing the same vibe. After living on Kauai for about four years, she decided to open her own salon.
“I lived on the North Shore, and it just seemed like Kapaa was more of a central place for everybody to go to. I knew there was going to be a lot of much-needed services there,” Fletcher said. “For years, we’ve had people all the way from the Westside coming to me for their waxing.”
The salon’s growth was constant to fulfill the growing needs, and Fletcher has trained local aestheticians since its inception, teaching and training them in advanced skincare techniques, including using her $15,000 radio-current face-lifting machine. The salon now has six trained employees on staff, including her daughter, Tasha.
“I’ve pretty much trained anybody that’s interested in skin care or bridal work,” Fletcher said. “A lot of the beauty community has passed through my doors, and I’m happy to share my knowledge and expertise, showing them the world is their oyster. I teach them they can open their own shop, and several of mine have, actually. It’s pretty amazing to watch the growth.”
She continues to offer popular body wraps that exfoliate skin and detoxify the body with homemade scrubs derived from organic sugar and coconut oil, plus additional herbs like lavender, peppermint and lemongrass for a sense of well being. The licensed tattooist also provides “microblading” (the latest in semi-permanent tattooing for eyebrows), eyelash extensions, clinical skincare from Europe, manicures and pedicures.
“The technology continues to grow by leaps and bounds, which has kept it exciting, always bringing in new treatments, products and techniques and equipment,” Fletcher said.
In 2015, the family-operated business at 4-1392 Kuhio Highway renovated, more than doubling its size to make spa treatments and experiences more luxurious for guests. The salon space went from about 850 square feet to nearly 2,200.
“We had the great spa services, but it got pretty tight as we added stations and when we had wedding parties,” Fletcher said. “The bamboo store next door moved out. So we took that over and made all of the floors bamboo, because we had the bamboo, and completely built out my little fantasy.”
Now one entire side of the salon consists of pedicure chairs and hair stations, while there is a separate lather lounge with a cozy space for head massages and shampooing. There is also a beautiful flower garden and comfortable restrooms with a peaceful sitting area. The other side features relaxing skincare stations with an even quieter atmosphere.
Fletcher refers to her shop as “a quiet little sanctuary or oasis in the middle of Kapaa.”
“It’s a great place to get your beauty treatments done and relax and be pampered,” she added. “We try to make our clients feel good about themselves, that’s what it’s all about.”
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John Steinhorst, reporter, can be reached at 245-0435 or jsteinhorst@thegardenisland.com.
