By Sarah Mansheim
When Amber Smidi opened Luxe Salon in downtown Lewisburg, she knew she wanted to do something different. A Greenbrier County transplant originally from Florida, Smidi noticed that despite the eco-friendly atmosphere of Lewisburg, there was a lack of salons selling sustainable hair products without parabens or sulphates. Now that Luxe Salon is open, Smidi says she’s offering the hottest cuts and hair color trends along with the luxurious, eco-friendly Italian Davines (pronounced dahv-en-ez) line of hair care products.
Smidi’s salon is elegantly decorated, a nod to her interior design background, with a beverage cart offering bottled water and a choice San Pellegrino Italian sodas. The floor-to-ceiling display shelf of shampoos, conditioners and hair products from Davines invites guests to buy one or two, or maybe even three or more, of the charmingly labeled, lovely bottles and tubs.
Smidi says Davines encourages its customers to reuse their tub-style containers as planters – especially for succulents – and she wants to take that commitment to sustainability one step further by encouraging her clients to bring in their empty hair care containers to be recycled.
But a great style starts with a great stylist, and Smidi says she is offering such on-trend techniques as balayage (meaning “hair painting”), which produces as “really natural looking highlight” in the hair. She says the effect can be very subtle, or more of an intense ombre effect, depending on the desires of her customers.
Smidi is also offering a smoothing treatment called Brazilian Blowout, a chemical hair treatment that reduces frizz, curl and drying time. Luxe Salon is the only salon in town offering this service.
Rounding out the salon’s services are cuts and styles for women, men and children, wash and style blowouts, special occasion styles, foil highlights, scalp treatments and facial waxing.
Smidi is a member of the Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Lewisburg Merchants Association. She’s planning a grand opening soon which will feature drawings for products and services, including a Brazilian Blowout.
Luxe Salon is located at 124 N. Court Street. The phone number is 681-318-3520. More information is available at www.luxesalonlewisburg.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/luxesalonlewisburg.
