Customers are welcomed by techno and reggae music playing loudly and staff members dancing around in stiletto heels. Mirrored walls and ceilings are watching your every move as a man with a beret snips away at your long strawberry blonde hair. A girl anxiously examines nail polishes, searching for the "right" color to match her outfit. A Latina woman with long blonde highlights, straightens a client's hair. A basketball player, at least 6' 5", exits with freshly cut hair and smiles at the desk receptionist.
Hair City, where its employees are as vibrant as its yellow and teal walls, is located in AU's Butler Pavilion Tunnel and has been serving the AU community 15 years.
"I have been cutting hair for twenty-five years, and I enjoy every minute of it," stylist Taher Kahiel said, who has been working at Hair City for six years.
The well-dressed, bereted man has worked in such places as Vidal Sassoon in London as well as salons in Seattle.
"The students here at AU are very fun and interesting people," Kahiel said.
The most interesting hairstyle Kahiel has seen was a young soccer player who had an American flag in her hair.
"It was one of the most interesting things I have ever seen ... she had short, blonde hair with an American flag painted in it," he said. "It was so creative and it looked fabulous."
Kahiel has cut the hair of many AU athletes, such as the soccer, basketball, tennis and golf teams.
Freddy Llerena, a sophomore soccer player, recommends Kahiel. "I've had my hair cut at Hair City before, and I really like the way my hair looks when I leave," Llerena said. "My teammates recommended Taher because he's a great stylist."
Kahiel has cut the hair of many AU faculty including the Dean of School of Communication Larry Kirkman, Vice President of Campus Life Gail Hanson and many staff members at financial aid. The one faculty member Kahiel has not had as a client is President Benjamin Ladner.
"We have offered him discounted prices ... we will just have to see if he visits us for a haircut sometime soon," Kahiel said.
Besides, haircuts that cost somewhere between $20 to $30, the salon also offers eyebrow waxing for $10 done by staff member Mariem Baldi. Baldi, a tall red-haired woman who specializes in waxing, has been employed at Hair City for four months.
"I am usually very busy," Baldi said. "Sometimes I see up to twenty clients per day."
Some of Baldi's most interesting clients are the ambassador of the Philippines, who frequently brings the staff treats such as cookies and candy.
"I love working at American University," said Baldi. "The students here are so nice and friendly and it's great to be working with people who are so close in age to myself."
"This is my third time at Hair City and I am always pleased with how my hair looks when I leave," said Nicholas Arguello, freshman. "The staff is so friendly and helpful."
Melton Roach, Jr. liked Hair City so much he decided to come back to work there after a six-year hiatus.
"I worked here in 1998, and then I transferred to another salon in Northwest D.C." Roach said. "I wasn't happy there, so I decided to come back to Hair City in October. I have had such great conversations with all kinds of people, such as law students and professors."
Sophomore Caitlin Jacobson just began working as a receptionist at Hair City this semester.
"I got my hair cut a lot here last year and I liked it so much I decided to apply for a job," Jacobson said. "Taher is such a great guy ... he really makes you feel at ease in a new environment."
Sometimes, when the store gets busy, Jacobson washes hair in a washroom that has pictures of oceans and beaches on the walls and comfortable leathers chairs.
Meanwhile, stylist Magda Fuentes recently moved to D.C. from New York City is working her second year here.
D.C. and New York are very similar, but the people of New York tend to be a lot crazier with their hair than D.C. residents," Fuentes said. Karina Vergara also from New York, who has only spent three days at Hair City but already sees how AU students are so fun and willing to try new things.
"I love how AU students are more willing to try all kinds of hairstyles rather than people in Georgetown, who tend to favor conservative cuts," Vargara said.
The trendiest cuts at Hair City right now are messy looks, funky hairstyles such as mohawks, as well as designer men's cuts, according to Kahiel.
Hair City is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and on Saturdays they open at 11 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call x6465 or come in any time during their hours.
