1. Freya
Freya is owned by seven hairstylists and co-workers who decided they wanted to open a hair salon that had the comfortable and welcoming feel of a tight-knit community but with a menu of big-city, high-end hair and waxing services. The salon features exposed brick walls, high ceilings and a lot of open space to work in, while the waiting room features eclectic pieces from local antiques stores, in addition to coffee, tea and magazines. Co-owner Emma Laehn says that in order to attract the young professional set, they decided to open the salon in the Bayview section, which is an up-and-coming neighborhood for people in the 25- to 35-year-old age range. "Even though we see a lot of young and trendy professionals, we help them choose a style based on what looks best on them rather than what is trendy, and then customize it to fit their needs and desires."
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In Stock: GHD, Goldwell, DevaCurl
2. Beauty
Beauty owner Tom Miller believes that training and education are the keys to success. The salon hires local beauty school graduates and then requires that they go through an intensive training course for two years. "We bring in good recruits from the school, train them and build up their confidence," says Miller, who co-owns the salon with his wife, Stefani. With two locations in the city, Beauty focuses solely on hair services, waxing and makeup application. Beauty's East Side salon is located in an old three-story Victorian house and features an eclectic and urban decor with murals on the walls from local artists and the house's original doors used as styling station partitions. The Water Street location (pictured) features work from local artists. In addition to being known for its educated stylists and top-notch services, Beauty is also known for its community support.
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In Stock: Bumble and bumble, Kérastase
3. Glow Salon & Spa
Glow Salon & Spa's Downtown location attracts a varied clientele as well as a diverse staff. "Our location is very convenient for both residents and employees of the city," says owner Maia Hanson. From hair extensions and cut and color services to manicures, pedicures, spray tanning and massage, Glow offers something for everyone. The 3,600-square-foot salon, which opened its doors a little over four years ago, features an urban-chic decor with exposed ceilings; big, bold stripes on the wall in brown, green, yellow and cream; and a huge blue wall imprinted with Glow's name and logo. Even though the salon consists of 10 hairstylists with unique personalities and varying levels of experience, one thing that they all have in common is a positive and professional attitude, which is what Hanson feels is crucial to creating a successful salon.
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In Stock: Logics, Kevin Murphy, Graham Webb, OPI
4. Groom for Men
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Groom is a hair salon and barbershop specifically for males. Stylists, who are referred to as "barbettes," are all trained in men's haircutting, in addition to straight-razor shaving, manicures and body grooming. "Our best sources of success are our barbettes' technical abilities and laid-back personalities," owner Theri DeJoode says. "We help make men look and feel good." The 1,600-square-foot salon was previously a loading dock, so it has an industrial, art deco feel to it with dark brown walls, metal and ivory accents and cement floors. "Our atmosphere is very traditional barbershop-style, including the conversation running through the salon," DeJoode says. "We don't hold back from talking about anything, including controversial topics like politics or religion."
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In Stock: American Crew, Aveda Men, Sharps, Paul Mitchell, Kevin Murphy, Dermalogica