Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Cindy Berta gives her clients something extra at 7th Street Hair. Call it a "funky and fun" experience.

Berta, who opened her shop in September, doesn't just put 20 years of expertise as a hairdresser into every cut. She makes sure every client leaves feeling energized.

"What if somebody came to me and I was boring?" Berta asked. "They'd never come back. I'm fun, I'm funky. When you come to see me I want it to feel like this is your own living room."

There isn't much chance customers will leave Berta's shop suffering from ennui. The moment you step into the tiny one-chair shop, the bright color scheme and fanciful paint job announce that this place is a little bit different. Berta and artist friend Mariah Raymond used creative tools like a feather duster to splash bright accents on the already bright walls. The result is like stepping into the tropics on a brisk October afternoon.

Berta's career as a hairdresser has gone through some dramatic transformations. She's progressed from Lavonne's School of Beauty in Pueblo to doing large hair shows in Southern California for Paul Mitchell. At the after-show parties for Paul Mitchell, she hobnobbed with people like Prince and Dan Akroyd. Now, she's excited to bring the energy she developed cutting hair on stage for hundreds of other hairdressers at a time, to her customers in Steamboat.

"It's nice to take what I've learned and put it towards my clients now," Berta said.

Berta started her professional career working in Denver's Cherry Creek neighborhood.

"After nine years in the business, I decided I wanted more," she said. After seeing a demonstration by the famed hairdresser Jeanne Braa, she made up her mind that she wanted to work with her, and contacted the Paul Mitchell company to find out if there were any opportunities for her there. The phone call resulted in a quick flight to San Francisco for a tryout and Cindy found herself on the Paul Mitchell demonstration team.

Berta made friends with a group of Steamboat expatriates in San Diego along the way and those connections eventually resulted in her opening her new business here. As a one-woman salon, she's quite busy but always makes room for new clients.

7th Street Hair is located in "Unit 9" near the alley on Seventh Street, to the rear of the Old Town Inn at the corner of Oak and 7th streets. Berta offers haircuts, perms, color, highlights, facial waxing and complimentary hand paraffin treatments with other services. She carries Nioxin and, of course, Paul Mitchell products. The shop is open from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and from noon until 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Call 879-4777 for an appointment.