In their first business, friends Elizabeth Betsch and Ashley Alexander wanted an “urban glam” feel.

The urban: Renovating a downtown Lewiston space for a mill-like experience with exposed duct work and trusses.

The glam: Adding sparkle and chandeliers.

They opened Blush Beauty Boutique in August 2012. The pair count 900 “guests” in their database (customers are “guests,” and 15 percent of guests are men).

“Ashley and I pretty much live and breathe hair all the time,” said Betsch.

Names: Elizabeth Betsch, 27, and Ashley Alexander, 30

Hometowns: Auburn

How did Blush get its name?

Elizabeth: It’s perfect that our name came from Las Vegas; it’s the city of our ultimate inspiration and the site for Paul Mitchell’s conference, “The Gathering,” which we attend annually. Of course we made time to explore the strip for design ideas. While in The Winn, a gorgeous hotel and casino, we walked past a night club called Blush Boutique. Ashley and I looked at each other and just knew, Blush! It seemed to epitomize everything we wanted the salon to represent: luxury, fashion and a certain sense of “coolness.” We added in “beauty” to make it our own and help clarify our brand. It’s not just about hair; it’s about making the guest feel beautiful.

Wildest style or color request you’ve ever received?

E: One of my craziest requests actually came from our new rising star at the salon, Desirae. I walk in at 7:30 a.m. and Desirae is holding a large chunk of hair on the left side of her head and says, “Liz I want you to shave all this hair off.” I immediately said NO and gave her every possible reason why it was a bad idea. She had no fear. I remembered back to what my hair looked like when I was new to the industry exploring the endless options of style, a.k.a. every color of the rainbow. By noon, I agreed to cut it when the salon closed. Needless to say her hair looks amazing and was a total hit this year in Vegas.

Your personal, “OMG, I can’t believe I did that”:

Ashley: My personal OMG happened when I was asked to be a hair model for a stage show. The educator loved my color but wanted to give me a new cut. I agreed under the terms that he would leave my length. The catch is you can’t see what is happening to your hair while you’re up there, only the reactions from the audience. At one point while he was cutting my bangs, I saw everyone gasp. When he was done I grabbed for my bangs and was relieved when they still felt pretty long. When I got off-stage, I went to the bathroom to check out my new style. In the upper corner of my regular bangs he had cut one-inch micro bangs! I cried for an hour. The next week at the salon, guests loved my new look and were requesting my bangs . . . maybe just a bit longer.

Give us a fall forecast: What do you see happening on heads around L-A?

E: If you’ve been thinking about a new fall color, it’s all about multi-tonal and dimension — think sunny blond with deeper honey undertones, or hazelnut brown kissed with fine streaks of gold and copper. Keep it blended, like maybe it’s your natural color and you’re just really lucky. The great thing about this is it’s usually lower maintenance, meaning: Expect to get compliments on the day you’re due back to the salon. Forget the 75 to 100 foils you’re used to. At Blush we believe it’s not about the number of foils on your head, it’s about knowing where to put them.

Your guilty pleasure:

E: Definitely shopping. I’m slightly obsessed with everything beauty and fashion. When I see something I totally love, I can picture the outfit, where I will wear it and how great it will make me feel. I just can’t help myself.

A: A weekly spray tan. Being a business owner and mother of two beautiful girls, my time is limited; spray tanning is something I do just for me. I have given up traditional tanning because of the harmful UV rays. Guests often compliment my golden glow and I take the time to educate them on the benefits of spray tanning, especially the younger girls.

How would you spend a totally obligation-free afternoon?

E: My boyfriend Evan’s family has a house on Merrymeeting Bay in West Bath. For me, there’s nothing better than a beautiful day spent on the boat with him and our 3-year-old black Lab, Jax.

A: My boyfriend, Matt, and I bring our girls camping every year at Papoose Pond in Waterford. Chloe and Sophie look forward to the trip and I love spending the week hiking, fishing and kayaking with my family.

kskelton@sunjournal.com