Are you tired of the same ol’ monthly hair trim routine? Does your current hairstylist stick to traditional styles when all you want to do is take a risk and change it up?
Visit Skullz Hair Salon on 125 S Water Street in Kent, Ohio. Not only do they have rockin’ stylists, but they also have a wide variety of skills and visions that set them apart from the typical hair salons. Despite their busy schedules, the salon manager Angelique was kind enough to answer questions via e-mail.
When was the company founded?
The company was founded in July of 2007.
What was your inspiration for starting the company?
I have worked at a lot of salons over the years, and it always seemed like there was an element missing. That thing was the fun of getting your hair done. I wanted an elite group of stylists that had a true passion for the industry and a desire to make coming to the salon an exciting experience.
What sets you apart from other hair salons?
We are top-notch stylists without the attitude. We offer an environment that traditional salons can’t provide. Are we loud? Yeah. Do we look a little different? Yep. But do we do kick ass hair? Absolutely. From children to grandparents and everything in between, we service them all.
It’s about variety and we’ve got that. We have something for everyone. If you want hot pink hair or a natural blonde, we've got it — and we do it on a daily basis.
We do dry haircutting at Skullz, which offers us the ability to adapt any haircut to a client's specific hair type. Cutting hair wet is kind of like cutting in the dark. Nobody wears their hair wet, so why cut it that way? It also takes some of the fear of haircutting out for nervous clients. They can watch as the hair takes shape from start to finish.
What age range do you target? What type of people would enjoy your salon?
We don’t target any specific age range or type of person. I think a lot of our clients realize that they just aren’t getting what they need from some other salons. We encourage change. We enjoy clients who aren’t afraid to get out of their hair rut. That doesn’t have to mean crazy hair but, come on, it’s hair. It’s one of the few things we can have complete control over in our lives. You wear your hair every day; it’s the ultimate accessory.
Do you host any promotions such as free haircuts or participate in festivals?
We have two promotions that are constant in the salon. The first one is a referral program. Current clients send us five friends and they receive a free haircut. The second is a loyalty program. After three punches on their card, clients receive 20 percent off any retail purchase.
We also participate in downtown Kent festivals and events. We try to keep a close working relationship with Kent State and the students. We will do anything we can to help out.
Where do you see your company in 5 or 10 years from now? Do you plan to expand your business outside of Kent?
Plans to expand are in the works. Within the next 6-12 months, we will open a second location in the Cleveland area and then in Columbus. The hardest part for us is hiring stylists that offer the quality of work that is standard for Skullz. We are also trying to narrow down a location. We have a few options to decide on. I would love to see Skullz with multiple locations in the next few years, and we will slowly take over the world!
What do you look for when hiring a new employee?
We are really picky about hiring. I could have a salon jam-packed with stylists by now, but I’ve chosen only three to work beside me. Our requirements for employment are:
1. Skill: I am looking for top of the field — cream of the crop. I want clients to be salon clients and not always just a stylist. There must be the same level of work from everyone on a daily basis.
2. Loyalty: I want stylists that are here for the long haul. Hair must be your passion. I am looking for full time and service-oriented employees. We are not a catty group of stylists, so a team player is a must.
3. Appearance: Look the part. We are selling an image, not just a service.
What advice would you give an aspiring hair stylist?
Don’t get discouraged. It’s easy to assume that because one salon runs a certain way that all salons do it the same — that’s not true. Keep searching until you find a place that fits you. Don’t take things too personally. People are not going to be satisfied 100 percent of the time. Keep trucking and learning. This is a great field with the potential to go in many directions.
Any other comments you'd like to add?
We are now a Bumble and Bumble network salon, which has opened up a whole new world of education to us. We are traveling to New York for our education and staying on top of current trends.
One of the questions we hear is, “Do you do ‘normal’ hair?” Yes of course!! That is what our business is built on. Our image is a little different, but that’s only because we are fun and not snobby. We want anyone to be able to talk about anything while they are here. The salon is an escape from life, and why should it be boring or stale? Come in, have a good time, and get some bangin’ hair!!
For more information about Skullz Salon, visit www.theskullzsalon.com.
