By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
A quick conversation with Salon Ooh La-La owner Katie Kruse makes it obvious she was born to cut hair. Just ask her Barbie dolls.
Kruse bought the building that was once home to Shorty Nigh and his barbershop and the salon next door. About one year later Salon Ooh La-La was born.
But cutting hair just comes naturally to Kruse.
“Obviously my mom played a big part. My mom didn’t do hair in a salon, she did it in the kitchen,” Kruse said before adding with a laugh, “I cut my Barbie dolls’ hair.”
She even gets it honestly from her grandfather’s sister who once owned and operated Mary Jo’s salon in Nevada.
“There’s three generations,” Kruse said proudly.
Kruse studied cosmetology at Pioneer Career and Technology Center, graduating from there in 2006. Ooh La-La, which opened in May of 2013, has two chairs – one for Kruse and the other for Josee Tubbs.
“I would say I have flexibility to do what I want, to design what I want,” Kruse said about being in business for herself. “For the hair part of it, obviously I’ve made a lot of friends out of it. And just being creative, every day is different. I think that’s probably the best.”
Kruse also is enamored by the history of the building her salon is in, having been home to Nigh’s barbershop for years, while Millie Wilson had a beauty shop in the other half.
Kruse has gotten involved in downtown Bucyrus in more ways than just owning her own business.
“Three years ago I was asked to do the Pigtail Contest at the Bratwurst Festival. This year (2015) was the first year I did that all by myself,” Kruse said. “I wanted to do a beard and mustache contest at the festival too. We had a great turnout.”
Kruse and Tubbs not only style and cut hair at Ooh La-La, they also do nails including gel nails. Ooh La-La is located at 116 West Warren Street and is open Tuesdays through Saturdays by appointment. The phone number is 419-563-9100.