Uptown Curl Saint Paul (Highland Park)

Uptown Curl was founded in 2014 by Kristy, who runs the salon as its creative director and clinical trichologist. The business has two current locations, one at 403 Vine St in Hudson, Wisconsin, and one at 655 Snelling Ave S in St. Paul, Minnesota, which is also called Highland Park and has dedicated parking. The Downtown Stillwater location closed in March 2026 after eight years.

Every service is built around curls. Cuts are done only on dry hair in its natural state, and razors, thinning shears and texturizing shears are not used. A Curly Cut is a blunt cut for hair types 2A to 4C that takes about 60 to 90 minutes and includes a consultation, a dry cut, a wash, conditioning, product application and a lesson on styling at home. Returning guests can book an Express Cut, a dry reshaping of about 30 minutes that ends with a mist of conditioner water or curl refreshing spray. The salon offers both Curl by Curl and Deva Cut methods, and all stylists are trained in Curl by Curl.

Color is handled with curl in mind. Curl Lights are hand-painted highlights or lowlights made for curly hair, also called Pintura, and foil highlights such as baby lights, micro foiling and foilayge are booked as a Curl Light. An All Over Color changes the whole head to one solid shade, while a Partial Curl Light covers the crown and face and a Full Curl Light runs from nape to front hairline. Gray transitions grow out natural gray, silver or white hair using special techniques and are performed by Kristy. Platinum, rainbow and mermaid colors are offered only when the hair can handle the bleaching they require. A free consultation and strand test are recommended before booking any color.

Treatments include Olaplex and deep conditioning, which can be booked on their own as a Treatment with Style or added to a cut or color. Perms, relaxers and keratin treatments are not offered. Kids cuts are available, and a Kid Style must be booked with the cut if a child's hair is to be styled. The salon may stop a kids service if a child becomes distressed.

Booking and payment follow clear rules. A credit card is needed to book, and cancellations need at least 12 hours notice by phone or may be charged 50 percent of the booked value. No-shows may be charged the full amount. Clients who arrive after their start time may be asked to reschedule, with a 15-minute grace period. Refunds are not given for hair services; adjustments are made to the original service with stylist approval, and haircut and color adjustment requests must be raised within 7 days. Clients with allergies may bring their own products, which the salon will check against a dermatologist's ingredient list. Retail returns receive store credit only.

Independent stylists work under the Uptown Curl brand as self-employed professionals. They set their own booking policies, handle their own payment processing and use their own techniques, and gift cards are not redeemable with them, though they can be used for retail or services with Kristy. The salon also offers hair model opportunities for its Stylist in Training classes and runs curly hair education classes.

Uptown Curl works only on curly hair and treats cutting, coloring and styling with the curl's natural state in mind. The salon uses only curly girl safe, water-soluble products.