After 40 years in business, Stephen Cabral finally reached a milestone in his career: retirement.

On the first of January, Cabral and his wife sold their hair salon, Stephen & Company Salon and Spa, to their three daughters, Stephanie Sauve, Sarah Medeiros and Julie Martin.

Stephanie Sauve, the new president of Stephen & Co., admits she was nervous at first. Even though she has worked in the field as a stylist for more than 20 years, taking on the role of president was a major career change. But, five months later, those initial concerns have been replaced with confidence from her peers.

“The people that surround me are what make me strong,” said Sauve. “I couldn’t do it without every single person I have around me.”

Situated in a three-story house on Champion Terrace, the salon is where Sauve grew up. The building has since gone through extensive renovations, but the salon carries some of the look from the family-style home.

The waiting area resembles a living room, complete with a fireplace surrounded by chairs. Upstairs bedrooms have evolved into quiet spas for skin treatments, massage and Reiki. There’s an outdoor deck on the second floor lined with patio furniture.

Megan Rapoza, an esthetician, said that because they work in a house, they feel like their clients are family members dropping by.

“I feel like they’re coming to our house,” said Rapoza. “We treat them like they’re our friends or our family.”

“Our space is really important,” said Sauve. “Back in the day when people went to the hair salon, it wasn’t a quick in-and-out. It was a place where they loved to sit and talk and hang out. I would love to create an environment that’s more like a lounge.”

This at-home atmosphere has developed alongside a long tradition of using the space as a teaching facility.

Cabral has long included an educational component to the salon. New hires were like apprentices, working alongside him to learn skills through experience.

Today, the salon has its own educational department. Sauve’s sister, Julie Martin, holds classes Monday mornings that cover everything from technical skills to speaking with clients about hair products.

Sauve describes the program, which lasts up to 10 months, as the next step for those who have graduated from hairdressing schools.

“It keeps us vesting in the future of our employees,” said Sauve. “I think, in this industry, they just go onto the floor in salons without further education. Education gives people career growth.”

Raquel Vilamarim, who’s worked as a stylist for nine years, began her career at the company as a student.

“When I first came here, I hadn’t done hair in four years. They taught me everything,” said Vilamarim. “If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know what I’d be doing right now. Once I started doing it, it became my passion.”

Vilamarim noted that learning didn’t stop after certification. Throughout her career, the salon has sent her to New York City and Las Vegas multiple times as part of a commitment to ongoing education.

As for the future of the company, Sauve hopes to be adaptable to changing trends — all the while honoring the lessons her father taught her along the way.

She said one lesson he would return to frequently was the old adage: treat others the way you want to be treated.

“You don’t always think of that in a business sense, but I try to do that every day,” said Sauve.

Amanda Letourneau, who works at the front desk and tracks inventory, thinks that a new kind of family has developed inside the family-style home.

“We work together as a team. You go to some other places and it’s every man for himself. That’s not the vibe here,” said Letourneau.

Stephen & Company Salon and Spa is located on 8 Champion Terrance. They offer hair, nail and beauty services along with spa treatments, including massage therapy and facials. You can view a complete list of services on their website.