Bloom Beauty Bar brings a modern, trendy atmosphere to Crestview

CRESTVIEW — From the Pacific northwest to the Florida Panhandle, Courtney Durke brings a little West Coast flare to her beauty shop in Crestview.

Durke, who moved to Crestview a year ago, opened Bloom Beauty Bar in August.

She said she wanted to open something more than a hair salon with a modern feel.

"I just wanted to create…a fun, trendy atmosphere, very modern for Crestview," Durke said. "I feel like it's something clients are looking for."

The building is filled with modern decorations and furniture, the majority of which has been built locally, according to Durke.

The main difference between the beauty bar and a typical hair salon are the services offered, Durke said.

Bloom Beauty Bar offers many hair services like cuts, colors, and styling for events. One of the stylists, Shelby Smith, offers makeup services including airbrush makeup.

"I didn't want to limit it to just a hair studio," Durke said.

Eventually, Durke plans to have an esthetician — a person who specializes in skin care and provides facials.

One room in the beauty bar that is currently an office will eventually be open for rental to a masseuse.

Durke said she enjoys being a hair stylist because of the relationships she's able to develop with her clients.

"We really become more like family with our clients," Durke said.

Earlier this year, Durke said she had a client pass away, and her last wish was for Durke to do her hair.

"It was definitely sad, but it was rewarding in a way that we literally see our clients through death," Durke said. "…It was an honor."

Smith recently met Durke through the smartphone social media application Instagram and rents a booth in the beauty bar. Smith said this is one of the first times she's felt truly relaxed in a salon.

"I've been doing hair for a little over three years, and this is the first one I've been at where I felt at ease all day long," Smith said.

Currently, Bloom Beauty Bar is open with four stylists but will have a grand opening on Oct. 19.

They are located at 277 Texas Parkway.