Happy New Year’s Seattle! Emerson Salon is taking part in some 2012 New Year’s Resolutions of our own and this year, our team’s goal is to become even more integral to our community’s and clients’ lives. Now more than ever, small businesses like us really bolster a local and diverse neighborhood like Capitol Hill much more than a national chain. We reinvest our energy back into you!

One major change at Emerson Salon we’ve made with the new year is that all stylists have switched over to become self-employed, renting their chairs and managing their own books. While you will still get the same great hair services from your team at Emerson Salon, this means that each stylist is working to build their own business and future. One change is that you might see is that the staff at Emerson are taking part in a new revolution in small business called Square. Through a mini-card reader, any smartphone can swipe a credit or debit card and be free of costly credit card machines and merchant-services contracts. Through Square, you can pay, sign, tip and receive email receipts in seconds, its pretty amazing!

Going forward, each stylist will be managing their own schedule and appointments and will be sure to let you know the best way to get your appointments booked, but we will still have our salon email and phone for your convenience. If you are a new client, feel free to write emersonsalon@gmail.com to book or look for contact information on a particular stylist’s profile. We appreciate your patience during the transition and we are confident the adjustment will be minimal and smooth.

An additional note, D’Arcy and Lancer have been accepted to WashingtonCash.org’s 8 week business training course at the end of January. This is a great non profit resource that provides small business entrepreneurs ongoing support with bookkeeping, tax calculations, goal setting, savings, coaching, etc.

Seattle, what are your New Year’s Resolutions? What changes will you make this year…..a hair change maybe! We sure hope so!

Post by D’Arcy

Check out the great new review of Emerson Salon in the Spectator:

Emerson

909 East Pike Street

Reviewed by Kelton Sears

Emerson Salon is where you go when you want to make sure your hair is going to look exactly how you want it. The hair stylists there are incapable of giving bad haircuts. It’s actually impossible for them to do so. They just don’t know how.

Stepping back a bit: Emerson Salon is over on Pike Street, right across the way from QFC. Despite the salon’s name, it isn’t American Transcendentalist themed. However, it is transcendentally huge, wood paneled and cavernously gorgeous. Henry David Thoreau would be at high fashion home inside.

Cuts are $40, which is pricey. But let me reiterate — you get what you pay for. What you pay for is an immaculate haircut.

On average, the stylists at Emerson have been cutting hair for approximately a million years. I have had my hair cut by four different stylists there, and during conversation each has mentioned how they’ve been cutting hair for a long, long time.

It shows.

Watching Lancer, Rusty or D’Arcy wield a razor and a pair of scissors is like watching a single samurai slice through an entire invading Mongolian army. It is awe-inspiring and frightening in its sheer efficiency and speed.

Even if you are not thirsty, the receptionist will insist that you have a complimentary drink while you watch your head quickly transform into a comelier state of being. Sipping on soda and watching yourself get hotter in a giant wood paneled room is pretty much the epitome of luxury.

Emerson not only does cuts, they practically have a menu of different services they provide for your head. They offer seven different kinds of coloring, including a fancy exclusive French alternative called “Balayage” that Drew Barrymore has done or something. It’ll make you real pretty.

Think of Emerson as the opposite of Great Clips. You will not feel vaguely uncomfortable inside its walls, you will not wonder if you will leave looking like a Troll Doll and you will not pay $5. If you are willing to pony up a little extra cash, Emerson will make your hair look so good.

Link to the full article

• December 9th: Alterna Caviar Hairsprays 20% off
• December 10th: Kevin.Murphy Easy.Rider, Gritty.Business, Night.Rider, and Sticky.Business 25% off
• December 11th: Alterna Life Color Hold Volume Restore Scalp and Follicle Treatment 1/2 off when you buy Alterna Life Color Hold Shampoo and Conditioner (at 20% off).
• December 12th: Alterna Caviar Overnight Hair Repair 15% off
• December 13th: Fudge Products 30% off
• December 14th: Alterna Hemp Shine Shampoo and Conditioner 15% off and Alterna Hemp Sheer Pomade, 20% off
• December 15th: Alterna Caviar Glitteratti products 25% off
• December 16th:  Alterna styling Cocktails 20%off
• December 17th: Kevin.Murphy Angel.Wash and Angel.Rinse 25% off
• December 18th:  Moroccanoil Oil Treatment (both sizes) 20% off
• December 19th: Alterna Caviar Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner 20% off
• December 20th:  Alterna Caviar Dry shampoo 15% off and Kevin.Murphy Powder.Puff 15% off

And because we love you all so much, we are putting on an extra day!

• December 21st: All Kevin.Murphy Products 20% off, and if you have a color appointment on the 21st, you receive free Italy shampoo and conditioner (while supplies last).

Mark your calendars for your favorite days and come on in to Emerson Salon and don’t forget about out other promotion going on right now where you can win Free Hair for 2011!

Growing up in Snohomish, Tracy always loved the beauty and fashion industry even getting in trouble for cutting her little sister’s hair when Tracy was only 4 years old. After high school she attended Gary Manuel Aveda Institute here on Capitol Hill where she learned valuable cutting, coloring and texturizing services. While Tracy loves cutting and coloring all types of hair, she has a special place in her heart for bold fashion reds.

After graduating GMAI, Tracy went to work in the Mill Creek area as a stylist. There she refined her skills with naturally curly hair, being able to remove bulk while keeping layers long and giving them the ability to fit together like pieces of a puzzle. Tracy is now excited to be bringing her skills to the Capitol Hill neighborhood where she will have the opportunity to work with more fashion-oriented and diverse hairstyles.

Tracy is also trained to offer four different types of extensions including Keratip, Extendtube, Skinweft and Plastic Tubes. The key difference between these extension methods involves the process in which the extension hair is attached to your natural hair:

Each of these are designed to meet the needs of a specific hair type, so if you are interested, we recommend booking a free consultation with Tracy to discuss which type of extensions would be best for you.

Exciting news! This year we’ve been nominated as one of western Washington’s Best Hair Salons in their annual Best of Western Washington Contest. There are almost 200 nominees and we need your help to take the top spot!

By visiting our profile you can vote for us as your favorite hair salon, and also leave reviews! Here are what some of our voters have said:

Celeste says: “The salon is always pristine and the personalities there are great. I can even find a place to park nearby. How can you go wrong?”

Shawn says: “Emerson is the best.”

Jessica says: “Creative, fun, friendly, fantastic staff in a great neighborhood. Clean, interesting, unique salon”

Colt says: “This place is outta sight!”

Go to the site today and support Emerson by casting your vote! Anyone can vote, not just clients, so tell your friends! And keep in mind you don’t have to write a review to cast your vote, but of course we always love hearing what you think!

Thank you so much, wonderful friends and dedicated clients, it’s because of you that we love coming to work every day.

Wish us luck!

As part of this weekends fantabulous Capitol Hill Summer Sale, Emerson has a super fabulous event planned that is going to be loads of fun and is going to let you walk away with some valuable hair tips and techniques. At 2pm on Sunday (the 29th) stop by the salon where Ellen, one of our lovely stylists, will be giving a hands-on demo on how to do a loose and casual, yet completely awesome, summer updo. She’ll show you the easiest way to make this must-have style work for your hair, and demonstrate how you can do it yourself at home to have salon-beautiful hair every day!

This is going to be a great event, so bring your friends and stop by to meet the Emerson team and get some styling tips straight from the experts!

Post by Amelia

Whatever you do, do not miss Capitol Hill’s huge Summer Sale that’s going on through the weekend of Thursday, August 26th to Sunday August 29th.  There are going to be mad deals, sales and events all weekend long up and down Pike, Pine and Broadway in the heart of Capitol Hill! The Hill has everything you need for whatever you feel like doing. A picnic in the park; shopping for the whole family; breakfast, lunch and dinner; dance lessons; yoga classes; night life and oh so much more!

Don’t miss the highlight of this awesome weekend: the kick off Mobile city party on Thursday night. There you can get a map of all the participating business and the list of the awesome events they’re planning. Then spend all weekend walking around and visiting the businesses and grabbing some great deals and fun events!

Emerson has a super fabulous event planned for Sunday, the 29th. At 2pm stop by the salon where Ellen, one of our lovely stylists, will be giving a hands-on demo on how to do a loose and casual, yet completely fabulous, summer updo. She’ll show you the easiest way to make this must-have style work for your hair, and demonstrate how you can do it yourself at home to have salon-beautiful hair every day!

Don’t miss what promises to be a rockin’ weekend, and make sure to come by Emerson on Sunday at 2:00 to get some valuable hair tips, straight from the experts!

Post by Amelia

Recently we’ve had some great reviews posted on our Yelp profile and wanted to share with you some of our favorites!

Amanda says:
“While driving from Oak Harbor on a Saturday, I called about 11 places before I found one that had an opening. It happened to be Emerson’s, and D’Arcy was going to be my stylist. I was a little late getting there, but that was no problem. She got me straight into a chair and we talked about what I was interested in. I had very long hair, and I was tired of it, so whatever we were going to do was going to be a big change. Well, after all was said and done and $40 later, I came out of there with a very manageable and adorable cut. D’Arcy did an awesome job, and the conversation was great. Very easygoing, and just all-around great job! I’ll be coming back!!! ”

Brendan says:
“I went here on a whim, and got a haircut by Lancer. When he asked me what I wanted I said short, but had no other suggestions. I just told him to do what he thought would look good. And I am so glad I did. He spent the next forty-five minutes intricately studying the curvature of my head, explaining why he was cutting some parts more than others, and he really got into it. You can tell hair is this man’s passion, and he’s damn good at it. When he finished I was in awe. I have never gotten a haircut this amazing, and I feel that if I want to go in a different direction with my hair he would be able to provide me with useful feedback. I’ll be a repeat customer at this place as long as I’m able to make it there.”

Margaret says:
“Came here for a haircut. I wanted to make a pretty drastic (ok, it was drastic for me) going from long long hair to medium length. So, you know, I wasn’t going to trust that kind of job to just anyone. Ellen, my stylist, did a fantastic job. She listened to what I wanted and also what kinds of problems I have in dealing with my hair…then, she gave me a super cute cut. She did most of the cutting with a scissor, then used the razor to thin my very full hair. It’s only been a few days, but I’m loving my summer-friendly do!”

Yogi says:
“I went to this salon to get a professional cut, and that is exactly what I got. My stylist Ellen Yates was stupendous. She could tell that I hadn’t had a professional cut, and eased me through the experience. I told her I wanted my hair short and low maintenance. She knew exactly what I wanted and even improved upon my original idea. I was opposed to using product in my hair, but she showed me how much it could improve my hairstyle. All in all Emerson Salon is a great place to get a haircut and Ellen Yates is a Fantastic hair stylist. I Highly recommend getting a haircut here.”

Thanks everyone for the kind words! You are why we do this business. Loved your experience at Emerson Salon too? Head on over to our Yelp page to share your own thoughts.

Get a haircut or color at Emerson Salon July 22nd through July 25th, 2010 and get a free ticket to the Capitol Hill Block Party!

The Capitol Hill Block Party, July 23rd, 24th, and 25th, is one Seattle’s largest street parties with performances by amazing bands like MGMT, Yeasayer, Atmosphere, Blitzen Trapper, The Dead Weather, and more. Get the full lineup and schedule on the Block Party Website.

Book your appointment online at EmersonSalon.com and make sure to mention the Capitol Hill Block Party. Space is limited so book your appointment today. Tickets are for admission to one day of the Block Party only.

We’ve gotten some great reviews on Yelp and wanted to share with you some of our favorites!

SP says: “Lancer is the best stylist and colorist I have ever had. After so many times at the prior salon I went to patiently explaining how ‘really, please, no stripeys and please, really, I mean it when I say get the greys” well my hair color looks the best it has probably ever. It actually makes me so happy to go there because I love how I look afterwards and how many compliments I get. He got the color AND the cut right, and people say I “look so great what have you done differently?!?” if they haven’t seen me in a few years or they say “Oh I LOVE your new cut!!” if they see me more often than that.”

Jennifer says: “Ellen is the greatest! I followed Ellen to Emerson Salon from her old salon. She understands hair and what would make each client look amazing. I tell everyone about her and would recommend her to anyone looking for a stylish. If you are just looking for a haircut, you are going to miss out on her true talent.”

Amanda says: “emily rules!!! a friend of ours owns the salon and recommended emily, and i was extremely happy with the outcome. i have straight, but thick asian hair (being that i am asian), and emily was not freaked out about cutting my hair. i’m not sure why, but most people are in awe of my hair (which is bad because it means they don’t cut hair like mine very much) or totally scared of it (which is also bad). emily actually said asian hair is really easy to cut, and she certainly had no problems. she saw all the flaws of my previous stylist(s) and fixed them. she gave me exactly what i wanted, which has always been a problem when i get my hair cut. it’s been a couple weeks since i cut my hair with her, and i am still in love. i’m sad that i am only here ’til august, otherwise emily will have to be my stylist forever!!!”

Brent says: “All I can say is A+ for ANDREA!!! I am amazed by how well I am treated at this salon. Always a hello and would you like something to drink. Very professional staff. I really enjoy every visit. Not to forget Peter Duerr the best man with scissors I know. I’m gonna miss you a lot. Everyone at Emerson Salon ROCKS!”

Maggie says: “Emily is the reason I go to Emerson Salon. She is a trained, experienced professional who can do the hair of a rockstar, a rockette, or even a rock. She’s done both my husband’s and my hair for about six years – she has an expertise in color that is unmatched and does miracles no matter what your age. I highly recommend Emily in particular and Emerson Salon as a professional business and supporter of Capitol Hill endeavors.”

Thanks everyone for the kind words! You are why we do this business. Loved your experience at Emerson Salon too? Head on over to our Yelp page to share your own thoughts.