Illuminate Salon

Illuminate Salon opened to the public on August 1, 2012. Rob Murphy, Chip Perry and Brandi Piana founded it as a co-op of Charlotte stylists, and every chair was taken by the second week after opening. The business is operated by Illuminate Salon, LLC.

The salon is small and hair-focused, with eight stylists working as independent contractors toward a shared mission. It offers hair services only, with no massage or facials. The salon describes its stylists as highly trained and as offering hair therapy. Advertising and marketing are handled by the stylists, individually and as a group, rather than by the salon.

The salon is in a two-story brick building at the corner of Central Avenue and Hawthorne, beside Green With Envy and under Grandfather Homes. Bars, restaurants and shops are within walking distance. The space was designed as an adult's haven and is not childproofed.

Services include haircuts, hair color and keratin straightening. Specific offerings include long layers, cropped pixie cuts, balayage and grey blending. Custom color formulation and color correction are a specialty. Appointments are booked through the concierge desk by phone at 704-376-3555. The desk is open Tuesday and Thursday from 12 to 8pm, Wednesday and Friday from 8 to 5pm, and Saturday from 9 to 3pm, and it is closed Sunday and Monday.

Clients are asked to give 24 hours notice for cancellations, and a fee applies to last-minute cancellations. Missed appointments incur a no-show fee equal to the full service price, added to a future service. Two or more no-shows require prepayment at booking. Clients more than 15 minutes late may need to be rescheduled. The salon accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, personal checks and cash, and gratuities can be added on credit cards. A returned check carries a $30 fee and limits later payment to cash or credit cards. Retail product purchases cannot be exchanged or refunded. Children may not be left unattended, since the salon has sharp implements and hot tools.

A co-op of independent stylists working toward the same mission.

A small, hair-focused space designed for adults and not set up for children.