Bill's Story
1968, New York City – Christiaan Houtenbos and Bill Oates met at a hair trade show, where Christiaan was demonstrating new techniques in haircutting. Christiaan was a free-lance stylist working for product companies and magazines. It was here that a friendship was formed. Soon after, Christiaan asked Bill to assist him in getting a salon up and running in his hometown of Amsterdam. Bill was offered the job as manager and found he could not refuse this opportunity! The salon was such a success after a year that Bill decided to return to Providence and open a salon. The two men then became partners in both salons. They then expanded to Den Haag and Rotterdam in Holland, and Newport, RI. After a few years, Christiaan’s career in free-lance styling took off and they decided to sell the Salons in Amsterdam and Bill took over as sole owner of the RI salons. Bill’s daughter Sheri became his partner in the 1990’s. When Bill decided to retire in 2017, their longtime employee & Salon Manager, Sacha, became Sheri’s partner. Located on the charming east side of providence, in the historic “William P. Angell” plaque house, circa 1865.