GREENFIELD — The online rumor mill started up as soon as Seana Pitts made an announcement on social media.

“The minute I posted on Facebook people were like, ‘Are you and Shannon OK?’” she said. “Like it has to be something terrible that happened, right?”

But Pitts and business partner Shannon Bassett say their relationship is just fine — the co-owners of Transitions Hair Salon have simply decided to branch off to different businesses starting June 1.

“It’s a lot of things,” said Bassett, who lives in Northfield. “Running a business takes a lot of time, stress. You’re always on, all the time, right? We survived COVID, but the overhead and the inflation also does get to you.”

Pitts will rent space at The Hideaway Salon & Studio in Millers Falls. Bassett will work at Hair By Harlow in Amherst. Bassett said her lease at 94 Main St. in Greenfield ends June 1, which will be her and Pitts’ six-year anniversary at Transitions. Both women, who met 12 years ago working at a different Greenfield salon, said working as hairdressers without the ownership burden will allow them to spend more quality time with their families. Pitts has one child and Bassett has two.

“We want to spend time with our kids while they still think we’re cool,” said Pitts, who lives in Athol.

Both women said it was exhausting to own a small business during a global pandemic, citing the anxiety and uncertainty. They homeschooled their children in the spring of 2020 and the entirety of the 2021-22 academic year.

“We turned our wax room into a classroom for the kids,” Pitts recalled.

She and Bassett rent the space but own everything inside of it. Bassett said a new owner would be able to come in seamlessly and take over the hair salon where she and Pitts leave off.

“All they have to do is have their business license and license to do hair and they can start their own business,” Bassett said. “So it’s like a ready-to-go hair salon.”

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.

]]>