Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Kirsty Forrest works with client Sheri Jeffcoat, of Clovis, in Forrest's Clovis salon.
It is not many people who would start their own business to free themselves up for community service.
One of these rare individuals is Kirsty Forrest, owner of the Dye Trying hair salon at 103 W. 4th St., in downtown Clovis, and the Blue Wave tanning salon at 1500 W. 21st St., Clovis
Owning her own salon, she said, gives her the freedom for her community activities that won her a Big Heart award from the Clovis-Curry County Chamber of Commerce in 2019.
Except for three years of education in fashion and merchandising at Wade College, a private community college located in Dallas's Fashion District, Forrest has lived and worked in Clovis.
The News asked Forrest some questions about her service and business record and some other business plans. Here are the questions and her responses:
Q: What programs of yours resulted in your winning the Chamber's Heart Award in 2019?
A: One is called "Glam-Her.," We collect unused makeup, hair and beauty products from our customers and the community and donate them to emergency women's shelters. Being able to use a little makeup can mean a lot in that situation.
Q: What kind of programs have you been involved with since then?
A: We started a new program in June called Get Dirty with Dye Trying where we painted terra cotta flower pots, then got our hands dirty to plant cactus and succulents in them, then sold them for $15 each. We raised $560 for the United Way of Eastern New Mexico.
Q: What were you doing before you started the Dye Trying salon?
A: I studied fashion and merchandising at Wade College, then returned to Clovis. I got my certificate in cosmetology and then went to work. I worked for 11 years at beauty shops in Clovis, then opened Dye Trying.
Q: What is the basic philosophy of your business?
A: We provide a safe place where anybody can feel comfortable, even just to hang out. We're a safe place for transgender people to get haircuts. I have decorated the shop with original artworks, many by local artists. I started my own business so I could have the freedom to be involved community service activities.
Q: What hobbies do you enjoy?
A: I have sewn since I was a little girl. I studied fashion in Dallas. I like to design and sew vintage-style clothing. My fiancée Martin Terrazas rehabilitates vintage cars. In fact, we got engaged during Draggin' Main (an annual event that celebrates vintage car culture in downtown Clovis). At Heritage Days in Portales, we brought 1950s cars and we all wore 1950s pinup costumes.
I also sewed and sold masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q: What are your future business plans?
A: I am planning a barber shop called Atomic Revival. The entrance will be a storage unit that opens up into a speak-easy type of interior with vintage design.
Q: What other family do you have?
A: I have a 12-year-old son, Knox, who is entering 7th grade this year. My parents live in Clovis. My father and his parents still live in Clovis. My mother lives in Clovis. She came from Fort Sumner and her mother still lives there.
