Owning a beauty salon was not at the top of Ashley Hankins’ list of things to do when her sister, Brittany Hankins, brought up the idea.

Ashley was content working at someone else’s salon and teaching cosmetology classes in Bedford and Columbus. Brittany also worked at a local salon.

But as things started to fall into place, it would seem the sisters were destined to blaze their own path in the world of beauty.

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Beginning today, they are realizing a dream come true with the grand opening of their new business — Blush & Brush Beauty Bar — at 115 W. Second St. in downtown Seymour.

“It was God’s plan,” they said. “Doors just kept opening.”

There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m and specials, drawings and giveaways throughout the week.

The Hankinses have brought along friend Phoebe Zike and a host of other talented stylists and makeup artists, including Lyndsay Cain and Destiny White, to staff the business

They will have 12 styling stations, in all, Ashley said.

Besides hair and makeup, the full service salon offers Bodywork massages, spray tans, waxing, hair and eye lash extensions and brow micro blading. They also sell health and beauty products including Sugar Bear Hair vitamins and the BB Makeup cosmetics line.

Plans are in the works to add several barbers too to build up a brand of services for men.

The salon specializes in doing hair and makeup for events including weddings and proms.

Also as part of the Blush & Brush venture, they have partnered with Toski Covey, who has moved her clothing boutique, Threads, to the same building so that they can share the space.

The building itself has plenty of room and has served as salons in the past including most recently the Victorian Doll House of Style.

The sisters, who are both moms, decided they wanted to be downtown because of all the positive change and activity they are seeing.

“We know that downtown is the place to be right now,” Brittany said. “We love the vibe and everything about it and we want to be a part of the history here.”

“It’s booming,” Ashley added.

To add another level of expertise and professionalism and to expand their products and services, Ashley, Brittany and Phoebe, traveled to Hudson, Wisconsin, to be trained and certified as BB Dollz by Midwest beauty guru Brooke Fleetwood, creator and owner of BB Cosmetics.

Fleetwood is a Seymour native who franchises her BB brand. She is scheduled to be at Blush & Brush on Oct. 7 and 8 to help celebrate the new business.

Blush & Brush plans on offering makeup application lessons and special makeover events throughout the year.

Although the Hankinses are originally from Kentucky, they’ve lived in Indiana for more than 20 years.

Ashley has been in the cosmetology business for 15 years and said it started when she decided she wanted to be just like her own hairstylist in North Vernon.

“I thought she was the sweetest, prettiest gal ever,” Ashley said.

Brittany said she decided to follow in her sister’s footsteps because of how much fun it looked. She’s now been doing hair and makeup for 10 years.

“Ashley was doing something that was exciting and she could make her own schedule and work for herself and that motivated me to want to do it,” Brittany said.

It was Brittany who started looking for places to open a salon, but she didn’t want to do it without her sister.

“I wanted us to do it together,” she said.

But at that time, Ashley was more interested in teaching cosmetology.

Brittany decided it wasn’t the right time, so she prayed about it, and those prayers were answered, she said.

“We’re taking a huge leap of faith,” she said. “We have no doubt that God is going to 100 percent provide everything that we need and more. We’re so excited.”

“We’re blessed to be where we’re at,” Ashley added.

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What: Blush & Brush Beauty Bar

Owners: Sisters, Ashley and Brittany Hankins

Address: 115 W. Second St. in downtown Seymour

Phone: 812-524-2222

Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and by appointment only on Sundays.

Information: Find them on Facebook by searching Blush & Brush Beauty Bar

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