FIRST: Skullz Salon

Everyone is cool enough for Skullz Salon, according to owner Angelique Manns. 

The spot, which opened its doors in 2007 at 113 Cherry St. in Kent, offers a range of services from trims to bang cuts to waxing to hair color. 

“Whether you’re a soccer mom with five kids or you are that eighteen-year-old that wants rainbow hair and you’re trans, there’s somebody in our salon who can service anybody that wants to come in,” Manns said. 

Manns said Skullz prices services by style and length rather than splitting the prices by gender.

Inclusivity and education

Manns said the salon provides a safe haven for people with identities that might not be as well served in a traditional salon. When Skullz opened, there weren’t necessarily places that were serving those people, so it stepped up to fill in the gap. 

Many of its stylists, current and former, identify as LGBTQ+, and those values have left an impression on its clients.

Sophomore visual communication design major Grace Abbott noted that aspect of Skullz.

“There it was especially very LGBTQ-friendly, and they just do everything they can to make you feel comfortable,” Abbott said.

Manns said the salon is all about educating its customers and staff and creating a comfortable environment for all. To aid in this mission, Manns posts “Angelique Answers” videos, which lay out product information, tips to keep hair in its best condition and upkeep for unique cuts, to the salon’s website. 

“We also want you to leave knowing how to recreate at home what we’ve created for you at the salon,” Manns said. “We try to educate people about their hair texture, about techniques on how to style and about products that are going to help you get there.”

Senior studio art major Nora Gast said the dedication to clients’ hair health went a long way.

“They really listen to you when you talk about what you want. It’s just a really positive experience,” said Gast. “If they put product in your hair, they tell you exactly what it is and what’s in it. If you have any allergies to stuff, because I’m allergic to a lot of different things, they take that into consideration. I’ve never walked out with a haircut I didn’t like.”

Work environment

Their services are priced to reflect that goal and the expertise of the staff, Manns said — and the prices also allow stylists to not take tips. Manns said the stylists know their worth and their abilities, and cuts and colors are priced accordingly without any need for gratuities.

To become a stylist at Skullz, after gaining their licensure, Manns said people go through a 12-step apprenticeship program that ensures stellar service.

“We’re trying to build careers for people, not jobs,” she said. “We’re really into educating our staff — we don’t usually bring somebody on and just put them behind the chair. There’s generally a pretty lengthy process of getting a chair at Skullz, so we really pride ourselves on being able to have great quality, regardless of whether you would sit in my chair as the owner, or you would sit in the chair of someone else.”

Unique styles

Skullz Salon offers more alternative styles, from funky colors to the method of cutting itself. Manns included that stylists can use razor cutting techniques, which makes the hair lighter and can add more dimension to the style. 

“We are definitely experts in razor cutting, so that’s something that we’ve been doing pretty much the entire time that we’ve been open,” said Manns. “It’s something that we specialize in, and it’s not really something that is particularly taught in school.”

For many clients, that unique service is a drawing point.

“The first shag mullet I ever got was there. I used to just have long curly hair, all one length, and they did a razor cut so it was all different layers, and it looked really cool,” said Gast. “I have a lot of hair, so much of it, and it lightens up my hair so much.”

Even though Skullz offers these hard to find services, the salon is capable of doing all sorts of styles for all sorts of people, Manns said.

“Everybody is welcome,” Manns said. “For a while when we first opened, I think people were like ‘Oh my god, I’m not cool enough,’ or ‘I don’t want to wear my hair in normal colors,’ or a regular person can’t come in here, but honestly I would just want everybody to know that we welcome everybody, and there’s someone for everyone.”

Skullz Salon can be contacted at 330-676-9663.

Virginia Doherty is an opinion writer. Contact her at [email protected].