"Some things have changed in the way we do things, but we still have a loyal following of customers we've gained through the years," said Pat Laudeman, the owner of Magic and More Hair Designs at 212 Bridge St., Catasauqua, in a recent interview with The Press.

According to Laudeman, stylists used to pull hair through a device that looked like a strainer to apply a lightening solution and called it frosting.

"Now we use gentler techniques that give a natural look," she said. Michele Bollinger was having her hair done by Magic and More stylist Michele O'Brien.

"I want it to look natural and I don't want to dye my hair," said Bollinger. The technique used by O'Brien takes a highlighter dye and holds the color in place with aluminum foil.

Although the days when women went to the hair salon every week have passed, the salon business has not slowed.

"We still have older ladies coming in every week, but now we have a broader base of clients," Laudeman said.

Prices have changed.

"I've always had curly hair and I remember, rowing up,when it cost 50 cents to get a haircut," she said.

The amount of harsh chemicals that are used has diminished greatly.

"We can do a much better job here on coloring than getting something at the store and using that," said Laudeman. Better products, she said, are sold exclusively to salons.

"Scruples is an exclusive product we carry," she said. Even some of the better known products like Paul Mitchell are available at the salon for less than the price at a retail outlet.

The salon business, according to Laudeman, is based on the personalities of the owner and the stylists.

"I have the best stylists that I have ever had," she said. "Everyone here, even the customers, are like family."

In addition to O'Brien, stylists Debbie Parton and Gerry Strohl have their chairs and customers.

Who are the best customers?

"Some customers come in and are very particular about how they want their hair cut, but the ones that come here and trust me enough to allow me to create a hair style for them are my favorites. I like the creative end of the business," she said.

Bollinger left once, but came back.

"I followed a stylist that worked here, but it was too far to drive to her place," she said. "My husband and son get their hair cut here. Michele [O'Brien] knows how to cut my hair."

Laudeman concedes when a stylist goes out on her own, most of her customers follow.

"This is a very personal business," she said. "When customers like the certain way a stylist does their hair, they follow the stylist."

When Laudeman started, she worked with another stylist in a house.

"I learned a lot and then I went out on my own and opened a place on Front Street," she said. Her first salon was next to the Ben Franklin which is now the Qi Spa. Laudeman moved to Bridge Street because of the available parking.

She likes to keep her clientele and strives to maintain the family and friends atmosphere.

Recently, Laudeman moved from her large Victorian house in North Catasauqua to a ranch house a few blocks away from the salon.

"I still go by that house," she said. "It was a handyman special and I put a lot of work in it. But, it just became too much to handle.

"One of my customers lived next door to a smaller house and told me the owner's kids wanted to sell. I knew right away it was the one I wanted."

Part of the salon social's network includes many insider tips on what is happening in the area.

"We know when one of our clients leaves and where they go," she said. "Somebody that is a customer or a former customer lets me know," she said.

In the course of her personal move, Landeman fell and had to take time away from the salon.

"Everyone here pitched in to keep all my customers happy," she said.

Although the fall slowed her down a little, Laudeman is still looking forward to her 35th business year celebration.

"It was a lot of work to get here," she said. In the early years she worked from early morning to late in the evening, but now she wants more regular hours.

"I raised two children and sent them to college with this business and I am grateful for the clients that we have," she said.

The other plus at Magic and More Hair Designs is that Laudeman likes animals.

"We don't want our customers to leave their dogs outside in the car, so we invite them in too," she said.