Austria and Helaine Hair Salon

While most people in Charlestown are busy at work during the late morning and early afternoon, Helaine and Austria Tejeva finally find some time to relax. "There are always customers in the morning or after four because everyone is getting out of work," says Helaine Tejeva, co-owner of Austria & Helaine Hair Salon and she relaxes in a salon chair. "Now it's just time for chit chat," she says as she laughs.

The owners of A&H, as the salon is more affectionately called because Helaine claims "the name is just too long to say," has only been open since 2003 but business is good. The two sisters long had the dream to own their own beauty salon one day as they worked side by side at Glamourama in Cambridge. In 2003, they found a space right in Austria's hometown, Charlestown. "It was perfect because there weren't any Spanish salons in the area," says Helaine. "Most salons specialize in a specific type of hair, but we can work with all kinds, both men and women."

While the salon is still relatively young, the sisters are looking to jump right ahead and expand their business. "We're possibly thinking about doing makeup," says Helaine. "We'll see where it goes."