Ashley Hearn: Lox rocks!
Downtown Knoxville, you’ve come a long way, baby. For too long you’ve been the
awkward middle child of East Tennessee, locked in a tug-of-war sibling rivalry
between Chattanooga and Nashville. So what do you do when you’re not daddy’s
little republican or an elitist, hit-churning, business mogul? With fists in
the air, you claim your individuality, dye your hair purple, shop at Amvets,
vote for Kerry, and rebel your little heart out! There’s no doubt that
downtown Knoxville has become quite the little artists’ haven and developed
its own sense of style, so in the midst of this pseudo-bohemian-rock
star-artist revolution, it's no surprise that we find Lox Salon fueling the
scene.
You may be able to find the latest fashions at the mall, but style is
something that cannot be bought. Style is about trying to pull off whatever it
is you’re putting on. The stylists and designers at Lox have a talent for
transforming fashion into wearable art. Brynn, the adorable, spunky owner of
Lox Salon, has her finger directly on the pulse of the downtown scene, not only
with her flair for hair, but also with her hip and quirky slip skirts. These
chic and affordable skirts are going to be perfect for spring, or you could
wear them now with a pair of opaque tights and boots. With vintage style
dresses and t-shirts that protest war, you can guarantee that wearing
Defenderprints apparel will make a statement. If you’re more of a
sweetheart, then you will love the handstitched heart patches and buttons on
Keri Deloge’s skirts and shirts.
Aside from the unique boutique-styles displayed at Lox, I couldn’t help but notice each of the stylist's personal fashion sense, and how each gives her own distinctive edge to the Lox atmosphere. Ashley (Dinosaur) Jones, the precious, tattooed receptionist, is the first of the lovely Lox ladies you notice after entering the salon. Truly a Southern girl, her adorable drawl and childlike banter could coax anyone into making an appointment. Along with her cool Southern charm, this girly girl knows what’s hot. Ashley rocks a lot of dresses, skirts, and frilly T’s that always compliment her stunning tattoos and ever-changing haircolor. Brynn Phillips obviously has a style that’s all her own. Portrayed throughout Lox’s decorating, Brynn has an almost 1960’s vibe, much like that of Twiggy. She is quite the little hippie-rock star, pulling off anything from vintage printed dresses with a thick belt, tights, and boots, to sweaters and flowy skirts, leg warmers, and flats. She’s also one of the only women I’ve seen that can pull off a faux-hawk. Laura Mullaney has been working at Lox since December, and she describes her personal style as “Eclectic. It’s a mixture of sexy, body-conscious clothing, and Southern-inspired rock-and-roll style.” Krista Segars, on the other hand is straight-up punk rock. You can't miss Krista’s spunky blonde hair and stunning smile. Her vibrant personality makes her black and white wardrobe pop with color. “I’m really into the local rock scene here in Knoxville, so I have more of a rock edge, I guess you could say. I’m always kind of punky with my Chucks (Taylors) and studs,” she says.
“Our main goal is to make sure that clients are satisfied. We want to do great hair and help the client to be more open-minded,” she continues. “We’re on the cutting edge of fashion and trends. We want to be hip and trendy, yet affordable. Because our clients are younger we try to keep it affordable. Because we are such a small salon, we tend to be friends with our clients also, and so there’s a level of comfort and intimacy that you definitely wouldn’t find at other salons around town.”
With fun and funky stylists, who wouldn’t want to get their hair done at Lox? Oh wait, we are still in Tennessee. Lest we forget how conservative the South can be; but fret not! Krista explains, “We were established at first to be a punk rock salon, but we don’t necessarily like that label because we want everyone to feel welcome here. As stylists, we try to inspire those around us. As a salon, we’re pretty trendy, but we all have our own individual styles. We strive to be an inspiration to our clients in that sense also. We don’t just change people’s hair; we modify their style and make it individual to them.”
Rock on, Lox.