I first started going to Carrie & Co. Hair Designers about six months ago because my friend with the best hair recommended it.  To be fair, her strawberry blond tresses with perfectly sunkissed highlights are something few of us can ever achieve. But she always has a great cut too and that is something we could all use. 

I’ve not been disappointed. Both Stacy and Carrie herself have given me great haircuts. So good, in fact, that I can “fix” my hair myself and make it look as good as the day I leave the salon.  (For those of you who know me personally, I acknowledge that I don’t make my hair salon perfect every day but I can when I really want to!)  Carrie & Co. is known for doing great cuts and color. Owner Carrie Leake explained, “One of the things that makes us different is that we truly customize color to the cut.  We charge clients on a per foil basis instead of just a half-head of color or full-head.  That way, I can give you just those couple of pops of highlights that will bring out your cut and suit your face and you’re not getting over charged.” 

Carrie & Co. has been open at W. Twincourt Trail (just in front of BP facing International Golf Parkway) for about a year-and-a-half and news has spread.  Now, Carrie is opening another location next to Starbuck’s in the Palencia shopping center.  The new boutique salon, called WOW! will focus on cut and color, and will open September 1^st.  Carrie will split her time between the two locations and Amy Jones, who was recently promoted to Senior Stylist, will be featured at WOW!

Carrie Leake has been in the business for 30 years.  Much of her early training came from Redken where she served as a Color Educator for 10 years. She is trained in the Martin Parsons’ techniques of haircutting and she has served as Learning Leader at the Paul Mitchell School in Jacksonville. She is an American Board Certified Hair Colorist and expects all her stylists to achieve certification after two years of color training.  “Being American Board Certified is an important distinction.  It ensures that you understand the chemistry, process and techniques of hair color on an intricate level,”  said Carrie.  Carrie and her team recently returned from a hair color conference in Los Angeles where they focused on more advanced techniques like corrective color and blended color. 

Carrie & Co. is a full-service salon. In addition to hair cut and color, they offer facials, body treatments, manicures and pedicures.  “Delores came to us from The Spa at Laterra at World Golf Village and she gives the most amazing manis & pedis.  She has quite the following from the St. Augustine golf course community. One of the salon’s most popular new services has been the Keratin Treatment which, according to Carrie, “is wonderful for just taking the frizz and fuzz out of the hair but leaving any natural body, wave or curl.”

Carrie & Co. uses Rusk color products and features the Rusk hair care line of products.  They recently discovered a new line of hair, skin and scalp products that they are excited to premier called Simply Organic.  The Italian line has no sodium lauryl sulfate, no parabens and no product testing on animals. The Simply Organic products feature olive oil and olive leaf extract, which are highly moisturizing with high levels of Vitamin E and natural antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Haircuts at Carrie & Co. include wash, cut and styling. Prices (for women) are $30 for a junior stylist and $45 for a senior stylist.  Each Friday, there is Senior Women’s Discount so the $45 senior stylist cuts are just $30.  On Wednesday, a Senior Men’s Discount is offered so cuts are just $15.  Call for full pricing and to make an appointment: 904-940-6138.