"For beauty consumers, it's not just about looking good this holiday season. In the midst of this month's shopping hustle and bustle, customers at local beauty salons are looking to be pampered as well as well-coifed. Shops like Richard Allen Salon & Company are answering the call, from the moment a customer sinks into the cozy, oversized chairs in the tranquilly decorated waiting area.
Life on the other side of the scissors, however, can be far from tranquil this time of year. With Christmas parties and family gatherings right around the corner, Owner Richard Allen, along with the rest of Lexington's beauty industry is preparing for the hectic holiday season.
"November and December are usually the biggest months out of the year for me for business," said Allen. "I'm already trying to get myself geared up to work more hours."
Located in a little niche off Wilhite Drive, the salon sits just off Nicholasville Road within view of the New Circle Road offramp. Still, many often pass by on a daily basis without realizing it, Allen said. "It does help when the time changes and it gets dark early," he said. "They can see the sign more when it's all lit up, especially through the season when everybody starts shopping at the mall."
Catering to men, women and children, The Richard Allen Salon opened almost eight years ago as a full-service salon, with the exception of massage. The business is run by booth-rental, meaning that the salon's 10 other cosmetologists rent a work station from Allen. "Everybody here is self-employed," he said. "We all have our own clientele that are more like friends. It's a great group of people. Everyone knows exactly what they're doing."
Across town at Upscale Hair & Nail Design, each of the shop's six cosmetologists specializes in his or her own services. "Ninety-five percent of our clientele is black," said Nicole Stromberg, owner. "So along with cuts and colors, we also offer relaxers, extensions, weaves and braids."
Making Versailles Road home for over four years now, Stromberg has owned her own shop for almost 10 years. "I like this location," she said. "It's close to downtown, UK, the circle, and parking is great. You can pull right up to the door and don't have to walk in the rain." When asked why she started her own shop, Stromberg explained, "I can't work for anybody else. There are different ideas and things that I wanted to do, and some people are not open to your willingness and openness to try new things."
Like Allen, Stromberg's business is run by booth rental, but she caters mostly to women and children. Specializing in this way has allowed her to build mutually beneficial relationships with other businesses in her industry, she said. "Anyone who wants to get their hair done is welcome, but the Thoroughbred barbershop is just behind us. So we'll send men up there to support them and they send us women and children."
Upscale Hair & Nail Design's holiday rush starts at the end of October and runs through February. This year, Stromberg hopes to extend her product offerings by introducing eyelash extensions in time for the season. "It's basically fake eyelashes but we'll be able to teach our clients how to put them on themselves," she said.
The latest rage in the beauty industry focuses on skin. Services like botox and chemical peels, which must be performed by licensed practitioners, are becoming increasingly popular. After years of being a registered nurse in internal medicine and family practice, Christy McCoy decided to change directions by entering the beauty field.
"I worked with long term patients in nursing homes and they have a lot of wounds," McCoy said. "I went to a conference on wound management and thought, wouldn't it be nice to do good skin?" McCoy later opened Skin Solutions Medical Spa, located in The Lexington Green Mall.
Along with botox and peels, Skin Solutions also offers lip enhancement and laser hair removal. The shop has only been open a little over two months, but McCoy said she has been pleased with its business so far. "We have a few new clients each day and we've got a lot of holiday advertising going on for gift cards, buy one get one free kind of thing, so hopefully we'll get people through the door," she said.
McCoy serves a wide variety of clients, from the average teenager with acne to the maturing woman in need of lip repair. "Businessmen like to come in and get the hair removed from the backs of their necks and under their chins." she said. "I want to have a personal approach with my clients, know and take care of my clients."
That includes giving back to the community. In its efforts to reach out, Skin Solutions has provided gift certificates for fundraisers and offered facials and makeovers at various women's shelters.
Richard Allen Salon at 2680 Wilhite Drive can be reached at (859) 276-3969. Upscale Hair and Nail Salon, located at 1224 Versailles Road, can be reached at (859) 389-4247. Skin Solutions Medical Spa is located in Lexington Green Mall, and its phone number is (859) 259-0101.