Oksana Sozontovz holds up a mirror so the client in her chair can make sure their haircut is perfect.

As the client leaves her studio, she thanks him and sends him with two pieces of candy — one for him and one for his wife.

“I like connecting with people,” Sozontova says. “They become family.”

Sozontova recently opened Oksana’s Hair Cut Studio just north of Piggback BBQ. Facing Wisconsin Avenue, the studio is on the corner of an apartment complex.

Sozontova emigrated from Russia to Canada and then the United States. She worked as a kindergarten teacher in Russia and Canada before attending cosmetology school in Calgary. She moved to Whitefish a few years ago to be closer to family.

In Russia, Sozontova worked alongside her twin sister in the classroom. She loved working with the students and their parents.

She chose cosmetology because she knew she wanted to work with people in an artistic way. After moving to Montana, she graduated from Pela Beauty Academy.

“I love people and making them beautiful,” she said.

Sozontova draws on her mom’s wisdom when working with her clients — you treat people well and that’s how they’ll treat you.

“That’s always been in my blood,” she says.

That’s why when she decided to open her own studio following a year working at the Clip Joint downtown, she completely remodeled the space.

At first she intended to offer haircuts solely to men, but at the urging of the wives of a few of her regulars she is now doing women’s haircuts also. She also does children’s haircuts — always ending the cut with a high-five.

For now she is offering haircuts on a walk-in basis. But folks can always call ahead to find out the wait time.

Even if there is a wait, customers can lounge on one of two comfy coaches, watch TV and have refreshments while they wait for a spot in the chair.

“This is my No. 1 goal, to leave them happy,” she says.

Call Oksana’s Hair Cut Studio is located at 114 Wisconsin Ave., unit 16 or call 212-3052.