Ellington

Hair Divas is ready for springtime, featuring a new look as well as two recently added stylists to accommodate an increase in clients.

Opened five years ago by Signal Mountain residents Rebecca Hickman and Kelly Simon, Hair Divas offers cuts, color, highlights, perms, facial waxing and tanning. Both have been stylists since graduating from hair school together in 1999 and decided to open their own salon in their hometown.

“We keep up-to-date, we don’t skyrocket prices and everyone is experienced,” said Simon, now the sole owner after buying Hickman out last year, of what makes Hair Divas a standout salon.

The salon’s interior was recently redecorated and now sports a trendy, eclectic look with deep purple walls and animal-print accents.

Hair Divas’ two tanning beds offer a convenient way to get a base tan before summer beach trips without leaving the mountain. Hickman said both beds are level-two beds with strong bulbs, and clients have the option of tanning standing up or lying down.

Within the past two years, Hair Divas has added new stylists Rhonda Essenpreis and Ashley Smith. Smith has worked as a stylist for seven years at local salons in both Chattanooga and Signal Mountain. London transplant Essenpreis moved to Signal Mountain eight years ago and worked at a salon downtown for three years before joining Hair Divas for more flexibility in scheduling.

“This hair salon is not a cookie-cutter hair salon,” she said. “We have a wide variety of different clientele that come in of all ages, which allows me as a hairstylist to be more creative.”

Hickman said recent trends in styles requested by clients include razor cuts, feather hair extensions and funky streaks of semi-permanent color such as pink or blue.

Next month, Simon said the salon will switch exclusively to Redken products for both retail purchase and salon use.

“It’s a product that’s been around for years and is well-known,” said Hickman. “It’s a good variety of products for just about anybody’s type of hair, and you just get good results out of it.”

Simon said she is also considering adding a nail technician to her staff in the future.

“We have a good mix of personalities,” said Essenpreis.