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.
The small, independent salon has only been open since September of 2006, but
Lox has already established itself as the epitome of the trendy downtown
artists’ scene. From the moment you push past the heavy wooden door lined with
random assortments of Christmas lights, you know that Lox isn’t just a typical
salon. “The people are awesome, the music is great, and it’s got a fun
atmosphere,” says Jamie Wilson, a frequent client of Lox Salon. “It’s pretty
much the closest thing to getting your hair done at a club.”
With shear brilliance, Lox stays on the cutting edge of the city’s eclectic
trends (excuse the puns). Lox understands that being a salon isn’t all about
a client’s hair; it’s about creating a lifestyle. Local artwork created by a
featured artist of the month lines the distressed, exposed brick walls, while
boutique-style clothing produced by local fashion designers is displayed at
the front of the salon. The artwork and apparel stimulates the appeal of the
salon's local and intimate character. The designers and artists, “all have
individual style. They make the clothes to fit the salon and downtown. They
also make the clothes to fit their own personal style, which tends to be unique
and individual. Downtown seems to be more open to wearing more unique styles,”
says Krista Segars, one of the two founding stylists of Lox. “People who buy
the clothing here are into vintage, one-of-a-kind things. People are always
looking for that one-of-a-kind, unique look. We try to give that to them with
the clothing and the hairstyles.”
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