Salon Aura

Salon Aura is a hair salon in Atlanta run by co-owners Christina Michelle Malone and Danielle Aldred. The salon describes its mission as going beyond what clients expect and providing a safe, refreshing place where people leave feeling energized and confident. It is in a dark grey house with a white front porch, beside an open field. Parking is free, with street parking on either side of the street, and the side of the salon is preferred.

The salon is best known for short cuts and color. Color ranges from natural tones to pastel hues, and is usually followed by a cut and style. Services are built around each client's head shape, hair texture and the look they want, and the team offers advice on keeping hair healthy and on planning toward a style a client cannot yet achieve. Hair extensions are not a specialty, but clients interested in them can talk through options at a consultation.

Makeup is offered in-house through Brittany Briggs, who works under Beat Suite Makeup Studio. Makeup is available for weddings, special events, photoshoots and nights out. Salon Aura also has a makeover for new clients that combines a consultation, cut, color, shampoo and style with a full face makeup session and before and after photos.

Visits follow a few set steps. New clients complete an online inquiry form before booking, and the salon reaches out if availability fits. Every new client has a consultation before their first service, with a $50 fee paid at booking. A $50 deposit is required to reserve an appointment for new clients and for clients who have not visited in more than six months; the deposit is not applied to the service. Cancellations need 24 hours notice by phone or voicemail. Arriving 15 minutes late may lead to cancellation or rescheduling, and no-shows or late cancellations are charged 100% of booked services to the card on file. Walk-ins are not offered, and children and guests are not allowed in the salon unless they are being serviced. The salon accepts cash and major credit cards, but not checks, and gratuities are welcome in cash. Cut or color errors are adjusted at no charge within five days with the original stylist; a visit with a different stylist is billed as a fee-for-service appointment.

Each service is tailored to the individual, from head shape and hair texture to the look the client wants, with guidance on keeping hair healthy.

Set beside an open field, the salon occupies a charcoal-toned house fronted by a white porch.