HOW THIS STYLIST FULFILLED A LONGTIME DREAM OF OPENING A SALON IN THE HEART OF HOBOKEN

BY SAMANTHA FARAGALLI YOUNGHANS

Katie Hawtin always wanted to open her own hair salon, but never thought she’d make that dream a reality. After more than a decade as a Hoboken resident and years of experience in the business, she finally make her own market mark in this quaint square mile city of 50,000 residents in early 2018.

“My business has only been open for a year and a half, and some days I’m like ‘How has it been this long?’ On others I feel as though it’s been open for 10 years,” Hawtin laughed when describing Sophisti Kate Hoboken, a small and boutique like hair salon nestled between Washington and Bloom field Streets. “I just figured now was the time to do it, and was praying that it was going to be worth it.”

And that’s exactly what it’s proved to be. “It’s actually pretty awesome…so busy that there’s four of us working here now,” she said. “I made it super cute, it’s very comfortable. People just pop in and out and hang out; it’s just fun.”

The 500 square foot establishment offers services for both men and women. For cutting and style, its lengthy menu includes haircuts, blowouts, and updos. In terms of hue changes, the salon offers single process, color gloss and toner, face frame highlights, partial highlights, full highlights, balayage/ hair painting. Also available are Keratin treatments and a conditioning/power mix.

Another of the salon’s unique offerings is its complimentary consultation for tape in hair extensions.

“We order the extensions the day of a consultation appointment, clients put the deposit on the hair, and then we’ll schedule the next appointment within a week or so,” she explained of the process.

Hawtin is pleased with how far the business has come, especially in a city that seems to be a revolving door for small establishments.

“Everyone feels great and every day is different,” she said of her expanded career. “It’s just fun. It’s not simply a job. All these clients end up turning into friends,” adding that “there are no plans to expand yet, but I certainly see myself in Hoboken until I don’t want to work anymore.”

Sophisti Kate Hoboken
105 5th Street, Hoboken
sophistikatehoboken.com