A local hair salon took a hit in more ways than one this holiday season. The Hairport Salon in Renton took a physical hit when an elderly driver crashed into the building’s facade on Dec. 17.

The accident happened at the worst time of the year when salons are taking a financial hit, with demand for services being down because of the economy local shop owners said.

If it hadn’t been for another local salon coming to their rescue, the Hairport Salon would have been in a more dire situation this past holiday season. The staff is now back working in the salon.

“It was quite traumatic,” said Theresa Heilman, owner of the Hairport Salon.

The husband of one of her clients, a 90-year-old man, hit the accelerator instead of the brake, propelling his car into the salon at 43 Logan Ave. S. Heilman would have been directly in the path of the car at the client chair in front of the window, but luck had her at a different station. Instead, her dog, a Yorkie named Lulu, got the brunt of the collision.

“She was torpedoed off her little stool,” Heilman said. The dog escaped unscathed by the accident.

Glass shards and hair products went flying through the air. The client Heilman was working on saw the car headed for them reflected in the mirror and pulled Heilman out of the way. The car came to rest a few feet from where she was working.

“If I was working at my station at the window, I don’t know what would have happened to me,” she said.

Police found burnt rubber on the wall of the building consistent with a tire spinning after contact. They determined he must have hit the gas and ran into the building.

No one was injured in the accident. Damages were estimated at $4,000 and Heilman and her client were given five minutes to leave the shop.

If that were the end of the story, it would have been one sad holiday for Heilman, her crew and customers waiting to get their holiday hair dos. But Heilman’s story doesn’t end there.

She traveled downtown Renton looking for space to lease for herself and two other stylists, now displaced. She couldn’t find any with room for her workers and accessibility for her clients, until she happened upon the salon Hair We Are at 707 S. Fourth St.

Salon co-owner Lorna Taylor, who shares responsibilities with Lisa Taylor, took in Heilman and her stylists. She said a lot of people would see them as competitors; but in this economy, she sees it as a matter of karma.

“This is something that you hope people will do for you if ever needed,” Lorna Taylor said. “I kind of believe in that pay it forward.”

She has known of Heilman for 30 years. They have crossed paths, but never worked together. Heilman and her crew were able to use Hair We Are’s facilities to service most of her clients over the holidays.

Surprisingly, this isn’t the first time either hair salon owner has experienced the fallout of someone driving through their shop. Lorna Taylor said years ago a malfunction in someone’s brakes caused them to drive through her salon. When Heilman was at another salon in Renton, a younger newer driver drove into the building and so did an older man.

“I’ve been in this situation before, but not within feet of this happening,” Heilman said.

They were displaced for two weeks. Now while still receiving clients back in the salon, they expect repairs to be finished in about two weeks.

“I’m just one of those people [who’s] kind of always been helpful to others,” Lorna Taylor said.