‘Family-friendly’ salon offers variety of services

The crew at Platinum Beauty Bar does it all. Haircuts, nail treatments and facials are all part of a day’s work for Timberli Barton and her team.

“We have a wide variety,” Barton said. “We’ve tried to do everything.”

Barton opened the salon on East Idaho Street last year after seven years working in the industry. Over those seven years, she hasn’t shied away from a challenge.

In beauty school, Barton said, she was heavily encouraged to specialize in one specific area, but she wanted to keep her options open by fashioning herself into a multi-dimensional professional.

She also felt pressure to stay at an established salon instead of branching out on her own.

“I’ve always wanted to have my own salon. That was my main goal,” she recalled. “But it seemed so far out of reach.”

But Barton has a knack for rising to the occasion. She was inspired to pursue her career after being thrown into the beauty world when she was 15. While working as a photographer’s assistant, an emergency at a wedding led Barton to do a bride’s hair and makeup at the spur of a moment. Even though Barton felt intimidated by the tall order, she said the bride was thrilled with the results.

“I loved it from then on,” she said.

Her next big challenge came years later when she opened Platinum Beauty Bar while on maternity leave.

It was a lot of work to juggle a pregnancy, a remodel and the launch of a new business, but Barton said she’s pleased with the way it worked out.

“It was a big career change, but I’m really glad,” she said.

Platinum Beauty Bar took the place of Kidz Kutz in Kalispell, so Barton had to renovate the playful environment in the salon into a more upscale atmosphere. She considers her style “shabby chic,” with a black-and-white color scheme and accents such as shimmery fur rugs and leather chairs. Barton sourced most of the elements in her salon from local vendors like 4th and ZURI and Clementine Home.

“I keep it local,” said Barton, who was born and raised in Kalispell.

In fact, her father was a stylist who owned a salon in town. Barton wants to follow her own path, but she also recognizes that heritage, too. “It’s a little bit in the family,” she noted.

In making the salon her own, Barton envisions Platinum Beauty Bar as a full-service salon with plenty of options for a diverse clientele. Platinum Beauty Bar offers all hair services including colors and cuts, plus facials, nail, lash and brow treatments. Weddings make up a sizable portion of the clientele, but Barton stressed the salon is open to anyone, including children.

“It’s a family-friendly salon,” she explained. “We want to make people feel at home when they come in.”

Platinum Beauty Bar is located at 130 E Idaho St, Kalispell, MT 59901. Hours are by appointment only. Call 406-309-0494.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at 406-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.