People come from miles around to Hair Cottage

Rose Brill of Maryland flies in for a haircut with Sunnie Bunn every 6 to 7 weeks at The Hair Cottage by Sunnie. The shop is decorated in Key West flair with mermaids on the walls and tropical fish hanging from the ceiling.


Rose and Lester Brill take their haircuts very seriously.

And $400 is a small price to pay, say the Brills, who don’t let just anyone touch their hair.

They fly in to Bonita Springs from Maryland every six to seven weeks for the “best haircut in town” from Sunnie Bunn, the owner of The Hair Cottage by Sunnie.

“They come see me all the time from Maryland!” said Bunn jokingly. “It’s like $400 for this haircut.”

A price Lester Brill sees fit considering he likes having his eyebrows trimmed and not every hair stylist takes the time to trim where it matters.

“It’s worth the trip because the haircut I’m getting right now ... I love it,” said Lester Brill.

Loving the haircut is just the beginning of what Bunn offers clients like the Brill’s.

“We are an upscale salon and we like to spend a lot of time with our clients to make them comfortable,” said Bunn, who prefers that clients make appointments. “In here, our clients aren’t just a number.”

Walk-ins are welcome, says Bunn, who has learned over her 33 years in the salon business that appointments ensure better service.

“I like to spend time and offer consistent service. That’s why people keep coming back,” said Bunn, who opened the shop in Bonita Springs six years ago.

Bunn also offers a princess birthday party for little girls and their friends for $40 a child for two hours.

“I don’t know of any other salon that does anything like this,” said Bunn, who added the parties a few months ago.

Parents love the parties because the kids can dress up like a princess and get their hair, nails and a light make-up application.

“They leave here with a goodie bag and get to eat snacks while they are here,” said Bunn, who is available seven days a week for special events.

Bunn also offers waxing and hopes to add hair extensions and skin care to her list of services as well.

“I’m having trouble finding good people that have that special talent, but I’m always looking,” she said.

Shirley Kengott, a seasonal resident of Bonita Springs, has had her hair cut at the shop for at least three years.

“I heard that Nancy was really good at working with thin hair, so I came in and she is great,” said Kengott about hearing about her hairdresser through a newspaper story a friend gave her. “I recommend her to my friends.”

Recommendations have been a great plus for Bunn, who doesn’t have to advertise her business much.

“We get so many referrals or people just see our sign and come in,” said Bunn.

The sign draws people in because of the Key West coloring that gives a small glimpse of what people can expect at the shop.

“I was sitting in Key West once and I liked the style so I wanted to capture that in my business,” said Bunn, who has mermaid’s on the walls and fish hanging from the ceiling. “Every day at least one person comments on the decoration because it just puts you in that vacation mode.”

Estero High prom affair to remember

This story was written as part of a package about the local high schools prom.


The shuttle bus is a unique mode of transportation that many students opt to use for the Estero High prom because “it’s fun to rent a car and have a driver,” said Randy Smith of Naples Tours and Transportation. The company is providing transportation for students to and from prom and also to after-prom parties in the area.


April 21 may be just another Saturday night for most Bonita Springs and Estero residents, but juniors and seniors at Estero High will finally have the “Petals in Paris” prom night of their lives.

They’ve spent months planning and organizing the night that will include a Paris theme complete with roses and miniature Eiffel Towers at the Bay Oaks Recreation Center.

Luckily though, local business owners say no one will really notice that the big night is going on — except for the occasional limo driving students to and from the prom on Fort Myers Beach.

“They are like little adults and it’s a big deal to them,” said Ed Alvarez, owner of Vincenzo’s on the Bay in Bonita Springs. He is expecting the teens to stop by his restaurant on the way to the prom.

“These are the type of nights where they can go out and learn life lessons,” added Alvarez who will have plenty of seating on prom night. “This is all a process of growing up.”

Feeling grown up is also why students make special transportation arrangements with companies like Naples Tours and Transportation.

“We have a limo rented and a limo bus already booked for the Estero prom,” said Randy Smith, the general manager of the company that will be driving students to and from prom and also to parties. “We have 43 vehicles in our fleet and we will have plenty for everyone.”

Smith says some parents also encourage students to have a driver to keep the underage drinking at bay.

“It’s fun to rent a car and have a driver,” said Smith, who serves the Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero areas. “What’s great is that you get a professional driver that is watching them and makes sure they get home safely, which is our key issue.”

Drivers may see the limos driving around but the most impressive part of the night may be seeing girls in their flowing dresses and guys in polished tuxedo shoes.

“They will be out enjoying themselves all night and that’s just great fun,” Alvarez said.

Students may also be seen at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Golf & Spa Resort in Bonita Springs but it won’t affect much in that area either.

“Because the parents have to rent the rooms and the prom is on the beach, we may not get a lot of kids here but we welcome them,” said Christina Doyle, the reservations manager at the hotel.

“It’s kind of always a busy time for us but we don’t expect to see more kids than normal here.”

Estero High students will be gussied up and feeling fab during their night to remember.

“It’s a nice way to go out and act like mommy and daddy all dressed up,” said Alvarez, who is looking forward to seeing the teens dressed up at his restaurant. “... they will learn to be adults and they are growing up sort to speak.”

Corsages, boutonnieres are still prom traditions

This story was written as part of a package about the local high schools prom.

Prom dresses may be fancier, the limos longer and the tuxedos more impressive but the flowers are still the same — corsages for the girls and boutonnieres for the guys.

At least that’s what Bonita Springs and Estero florists are seeing as Estero High students get ready to party on April 21.

“Prom is like a holiday. There are a lot of orders and we usually make a ton of corsages and boutonnieres,” said Susie Sayger, the owner of Heavenly Scent Flowers in Bonita Springs. “It’s a very important night for kids.”

The big night is preceded with months of planning including outfit shopping and securing a date.

For many it’s their first time to act like adults and that’s when the flower selection becomes important.

“We will probably get 99 percent of our orders as wrist corsages,” said florist, Mary Craig of Petals & Presents in Estero.

Many girls want corsages much like their mothers wore to prom years ago, says Sayger, who’s been in the flower business for 22 years.

“They can change everything but in the end they all order flowers,” said Sayger, who has a few orders from Estero High students.

Orchids and sprig roses are the norm for wrist corsages as are carnations for the guy’s lapel, but colors are becoming increasingly important.

“They come in during the week before and get everything they need to match colors with their date,” Sayger said. “They come order the flowers after they know what everybody is going to wear.”

Some students also opt to update their flower options by ordering bracelet-style corsages with colored jewels and pearls or put flowers on other parts of the body.

“I sometimes get someone come in with a shoe and say they want flowers to tie to the heel and come up the ankle,” Sayger said. “It’s a new trend in the last few years and it’s their way of making it their own.”

And, giving their outfits that final touch is why some girls put flowers in their hair as well.

“It’s the florist’s job to finish the look and that’s why we are the last people they visit,” said Sayger, who expects to prepare countless corsages within the next week. “It takes a lot of effort from them to put everything together and we are happy to help.”