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Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Winfield’s newest hair salon is Gypsy Roots Salon
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Heads up everyone! There’s a new hair salon in town. The owners, Christi Klouda and stylist Lisa Van Den Berghe-Rees, are prepared to cut, curl, color, and more to meet all your hair’s needs. Christi and Lisa, who have over 35 years of experience between them, have opened “Gypsy Roots Salon” here in Winfield.
They are located at 102 North Locust Street in the building where Rebecca Bender had her photography studio. In the 1930s, the People’s State Bank was located there before it moved across the street in 1936.
When asked where she came up with the name “Gypsy Roots,” Christi explained, “I’ve moved 23 times since I turned 18 and I felt it was symbolic of me settling down and planting my roots.”
Originally from southern Michigan, Christi has lived in the panhandle of Florida and in southern California. She worked in four different states before putting her roots down in Iowa.
“When people ask me ‘Why?’ I say ‘Why not?’ When my gypsy bells start ringing, I’ve got to go!” she said.
Christi’s gypsy bells have been silent for 12 years as she is now residing in Iowa, fulfilling her roles as a wife and mother.
“Now that I have settled in Iowa, I have built up a wonderful clientele from the Washington area and I’m not allowed to ever leave so here we are, with me planting my ‘gypsy roots.’”
Christi said she knew she wanted to be a hairdresser from the time she was in grade school. She was the 6-year-old carrying around an old hairbrush and a can of hairspray in her purse always on the lookout for someone on which to test her skills. No hair was safe from Christi.
“I had my hands in everyone’s hair any chance I got,” she said.
Christi was 13 years old before she had her first professional hair cut, a gift she had requested for her birthday.
“We weren’t a family to have our hair done,” she explained.
If Christi had any doubts about her future career, her first trip to a salon erased them. She said the smell of shampoo alone was “to die for,” and left no doubt as to what her career would be.
Determined to follow her dream, Christi worked hard in school, so she was able to homeschool in her senior year and graduated in June of 2003. By October 3, 2003 Christi had her very first client who was her client until Christi left that shop.
Before starting her career, Christi had worked several other jobs. As a kid, she worked with her dad who owned a car lot. While in Florida she worked as a cashier at Walmart while waiting for her cosmetology license to transfer. After moving to Iowa, she worked as a cook at Four-Corners, then as a cashier at Walmart until her son Jett was born. When Jett was two weeks old, Christi began working at the Hair Bar in Washington, where she has been employed for the last 11.5 years.
Christi said she met her “wonderful” husband Josh Klouda online in 2015, and while they never meet in person, they stayed “friends” on socials. They finally met in 2020 on Father’s Day and were married 10 weeks later. They have one son Jett who has attended WMU since first grade.
Jett and Christi prefer spending time outdoors, and during the summer, they can often be found at the pool whenever Christi is available. Festivals, flea markets, craft shows (“I’ll never turn down a good craft activity!”) and other fun activities are also on their list of favorite activities. On lazy days, Christi enjoys gardening with her husband.
”We have enjoyed becoming a part of the community over the past five years and I can’t wait to see what’s next now that I have moved my business locally,” said Christi adding that she planned to start a business in Winfield shortly after they were married, but because of the commute, she didn’t want to be that far from her son.
“I’m the mom who wants to be there if possible and luckily with my profession it’s possible to make it work.”
Before she moved here, she had to make sure she could make the move without losing her current clientele. She said she knew the community needed what she had to offer and after building local clientele she knew the transition would work.
“I love my job. Growing up, I was always told I was selling myself sort because I was so smart, but I wanted to be happy.”
Christi is happy she followed dream.
“I hang out with my friends all day and they pay me and bring me treats. I support my friends by listening, offering comfort, and helping them through life's challenges. My job is an honor that I wouldn’t trade for anything,” she said.
Christi concluded by saying, “A salon isn’t just a place to get your hair done. It’s a vibe. It’s a haven. It’s a place to stop to see a friendly face on your way home after a long day, so you can greet your family with a smile. Pop in just to breathe. That’s what a salon provides. And if yours doesn’t, maybe you should stop into Gypsy Roots and see what I’m talking about.”
Christi’s partner is Lisa Van Den Berghe-Rees. Lisa is already a well-known Winfield resident as nearly everyone in town has been in the city office where Lisa is employed fulltime as Winfield’s Deputy Clerk.
Lisa has three children: Kory, 18, Kelly, 11, and Keith, 9. Some of Lisa’s favorite times are “being at the ballfield with my kids and traveling.”
Shortly after relocating to Winfield, Lisa established the “Short and Saddy” hair salon in her residence. She owned and operated th e salon from 2012 to 2016. After four years Lisa decided it was time to take a break from behind the chair. She took over the full-time position of Deputy Clerk for the city following the retirement of Jan Walters who had served the city for many years.
Lisa’s hometown is New Liberty, Iowa. She graduated from North Scott High School in 2002 and Capri Beauty School in Davenport in 2004.
“I met Christi at city hall when she was looking for a location to open a salon. Then we got to know each other better because our kids were in school together and we have a lot of the same ‘mom’ friends,’” explained Lisa when asked how she met Christi, adding, ”Christi is the salon owner. I’m just along for the ride.”
Lisa said she had been thinking about the possibility of getting back behind the chair again. It only took one short conversation with Christi about her vision of “Gypsy Roots” to get Lisa and Christi together. “I started working on getting my license to get back behind the chair while Christi was getting the salon open.”
For Lisa, the most rewarding part of her profession is meeting new people and working with kids, adding, “My schedule looks very different than before. Kelly and Keith are the top priority clients.”
Lisa finds scheduling appointments and dealing with no-shows the most frustrating part of her job.
Lisa is currently available to provide haircuts on one evening a week as well as on alternate Saturdays. Contact Lisa or Christi for more information and/or an appointment.
Christi and Lisa invite you to attend their Grand Opening for “Gypsy Roots” on April 12 from 1-4 p.m. Their motto is: “We look forward to seeing you and your hair!”
