A search for Ann Arbor salons on Yelp results in 59 matches, while a Google search turns up more dots than an archery target. If A2's flood of hair stylist choices -- with the mammoth
Douglas J. Aveda Institute and Salon sitting at the downtown bullseye -- is any indication, we must be one of the best-coiffed communities in Michigan.
Some salons have differentiated themselves from the competition by working overtime to offer top-notch services to young professionals and household breadwinners. Though more expensive than your typical chop shop, these salons cater to people (mostly women) who are particular about their hair and are willing to pay premium prices for quality services. They also employ a surprising number of people -- with some offering benefits that rival some start-ups, and others catering to a tech-savvy, after hours lifestyle.
Cathy Brown-Issel, owner of
Brown and Deline, has been striving to maintain a high standard for her clients since opening her first salon in 1995. A second location opened on Jackson Road in 2005, and three years later the two salons merged at the newer location. The large space has 20 chairs and 55 employees, ranging in age from 17 to 50-something, catering to an equally diverse client base.
"When we started Brown and Deline, I wanted to create a positive culture and work with staff who had the same passion as I did," says Brown-Issel.
Brown and Deline offers its employees health, dental and retirement benefits, while requiring ongoing education with the goal of building a long-term staff.
"I attract the crème de la crème," says Brown-Issel. "My staff comes from the top 10% of the industry. We work hard at what we do and like attracts like. We attract the best talent and the most discerning clients."
Brown and Deline was recently honored with a Salon Today 200 award as one of the top 200 salons in the country with best business practices and growth.
"We've had growth every year, and that's not by accident," says Brown-Issel.
The majority of Brown and Deline's clientele lives in a 15-mile radius of the salon -- mostly upper middle class women as well as working professionals. Cuts range from $26 to $55. The diverse age range of the staff creates an equally diverse range of clientele with each stylist attracting a particular demographic. Some clients live right downtown while others travel from as far away as Chicago to get their hair done.
The newest of Ann Arbor's premier salons,
Salon Vox, opened downtown in 2006 on West Liberty. Owner and stylist Jeniffer Hepler wanted a place downtown where she could offer an upscale salon atmosphere that was unique in quality, look and feel.
"Our equipment is designed by Porsche and imported from Europe," says Hepler. "Our staff is knowledgeable and friendly and we're committed to a world-class experience."
Three years after it opened, Salon Vox was featured in
Elle magazine as one of the top 100 salons in the country.
Salon Vox excels at trendy and edgy looks, offering staff continued education with bumble and bumble and Oribe Hair Care. On Thursday nights, Vox remains open until midnight with a DJ spinning in the front window once the sun goes down. Hepler prides herself on keeping Salon Vox open later than most salons, with 9 p.m. closing times on weekdays.
The hip salon attracts a younger clientele in the 25 to 38-year-old range who live and work downtown, including a large number of employees from Google, who are willing to pay $40-70 for a cut.
"We get law school students and med school students, especially ones from big cities like New York and Boston," says Hepler. "We get a lot of people from the hospital who come after work around 10 p.m. Our Thursday nights are booked solid."
Hepler says that one of Salon Vox's best advertisements has been Yelp. Salon Vox has triple the reviews of most other salons in the city with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. The reviews are lengthy and detailed and even the rare three-star review has positive points. This web presence also dovetails with the salon's aggressive use of social media. Their Facebook page has nearly 3,000 "likes".
On the more traditional end of the spectrum, Marilyn Richason, owner of
Jacques Dessange Salon and Spa, bought her first salon back in 1978 but a chance meeting with a Dessange delegation in Detroit inspired her to start a franchise in Ann Arbor. It took her three years but eventually Richason opened her franchise, bringing the Dessange brand to Ann Arbor.
"Dessange is a luxury brand," says Richason. "It's classic French. High fashion. Elegance. It's the complete beauty concept -- finished styles. No French woman would leave the house without perfect hair and make-up. "
Dessange is dedicated to being sophisticated and elegant, but still trendy. The 1,500 salons across the country are very consistent -- each monitored regularly by staff from the salon's headquarters on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Staff at Jacques Dessange are required to train every season to keep up with the latest styles, techniques and products.
This haute couture approach to hair attracts a clientele of young professionals and university professors as well as Ann Arbor residents from abroad.
"Jacques Dessange might not be well known in Ann Arbor but it's a global brand," says Richason.
With nine chairs and six employees dedicated to hair, Dessange only takes the very best stylists and holds them to a high standard.
"For hairdressers looking for a career, Dessange is a great company to work for," says Richason.
The edgiest salon in Ann Arbor is located in a converted loft space in the heart of downtown on State Street. Dulce "Cookie" Gomez opened
Above Ground Hair Studio in 2001, determined to fill a hip, trendy niche in the city that specifically catered to a much maligned demographic -- women with curly hair.
"Women with curly hair suffer through horrible curly cut after horrible curly cut," says Meg Partier, director of operations at Above Ground. "Once they find a good curly cut, they're incredibly loyal."
Above Ground prides itself on good curly cuts, with clients traveling from as far as Colorado, Chicago and all points in between.
"Our goal is for your hair to look good but also stay healthy," says Partier.
Above Ground is the most eclectic of the higher-end salons, with a lot of personality in its space and with its staff.
"This place sticks in people's minds," says Partier. "Our clients love the experience and we get a lot of word-of-mouth referrals."
Being right on State Street, Above Ground tends to get a higher percentage of students with the disposable incomes, paying $45-65 to trim their locks. Above Ground attracts young professionals and university employees from a wide range of ethnicities -- many seeking out the masters of the curly cut. With just five chairs and five stylists, it's more intimate than a lot of Ann Arbor's salons, helping to foster a feeling of being part of a hip and exclusive community.
"I left Above Ground for a few years and I wouldn't get my hair cut until I got back to town," says Partier. "Cookie is amazing."
Despite offering haircuts and styling starting at just $28, the Douglas J Aveda Institute has a cooperative relationship with its more exclusive peers. Brown and Deline, Salon Vox, Jacques Dessange and Above Ground have positive connections with Aveda, positioning current students as assistants who then, in turn, learn tricks of the trade from Ann Arbor's premier salons. Because of Aveda's high regard in the industry, graduates are usually sought after by all four salons. In fact, half of the staff at Above Ground are Aveda graduates.
"There are plenty of clients in Ann Arbor," says Richason, "and plenty of salons for women to find the right fit."
Richard Retyi is the social media manager at Ann Arbor digital marketing firm Fluency Media as well as a freelance writer for various publications. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichRetyi or read his blog at RichRetyi.com.All photos by Doug Coombe
Photos:
Jeniffer Hepler at Salon Vox
Salon Vox
Jeniffer Hepler at Salon Vox
Hair coloring at Salon Vox
Jeniffer Hepler at Salon Vox
Hair coloring at Brown and Deline
Hair coloring at Brown and Deline
Hair coloring at Brown and Deline
Manicure at Brown and Deline
Manicure at Brown and Deline
Marilyn Richason at Jacques Desange
Marilyn Richason and coworkers at Jacques Desange
Marilyn Richason at Jacques Desange
Marilyn Richason at Jacques Desange
Meg Partier at Above Ground
Meg Partier at Above Ground
Meg Partier at Above Ground
Meg Partier at Above Ground