The Red and Black

Issue date: 9/11/07 Section: Variety

Media Credit: SARAH KING Republic Salon stylist Shane Davis of Athens cuts University alumna Erin Holmes' hair Sept. 3. [Click to enlarge]

Blunt cuts and Bolsheviks. Layers and Lenin. Most people don't see much of a connection between revolutions and hairstyling.

Still, some Athenians might have noticed the military-style ads for Republic Salon.

University alumna Alissa Carrier and her business partner Lyric Bellotte said they decided to open Republic after seeing the need for a salon that allowed stylists to be very involved in both cutting and coloring.

"We really wanted to do something that was a little bit more high-end, that specified basically with color," Carrier said.

Bucking the tradition of colorful, feminine promotion, Republic has begun making a name for itself with fliers that look part hair salon and part underground movement.

Located on the third floor of the Tasty World building, Republic opened Sept. 3 as the latest cut and color destination for those looking to sport a new style.

With hardwood floors, large windows, exposed ceiling timbers and views of downtown Athens and the University's North campus, Republic has a prime location.

One stand-out feature of Republic's interior is the color bar. A large, circular bar area serves as a workspace for the stylists to mix hair dye.

The design of the color bar will allow clients to sit in the salon chair and watch stylists mix the colors. Clients then have their hair dyed while still sitting at the bar.

For those over 21, Republic offers another sort of bar. The salon has a self-serve refreshment area with red and white wine, a variety of beers and chilled vodka shots, Carrier said.

Though Republic is aiming for a high-end atmosphere, owners said they intend to make their clients feel comfortable. All the stylists are friends, and that is a big factor in the creation of Republic's environment, they said.

"We really wanted it to feel like it was a family sort of affair - because that's really what it is - it really is a republic for us," Carrier said.

As for their clientele, the salon wants to attract the large University population just outside their doors.

"We're trying to make it a really awesome place for students and employees and downtown business people to come," Carrier said.

The stylists are ready for most anyone in Athens to take a whirl in their chair with a definite spirit of the fresh and modern.

"We will be - and we are - a little bit more progressive," Carrier said.

All Republic stylists are trained at Vidal Sassoon, Carrier said.

All of the stylists have at least two years of experience. Bellotte, the most experienced, has been working in the industry for 18 years.

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