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Aug 7, 2008 6:13 pm US/Central
Allen Hair Salon Going Green
ALLEN (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Green is the color of choice at Suavizar Salon in Allen.
But it's not going in the customers' hair.
Everything inside is designed with the environment in mind.
Owners Amy and Dave Martinez spent two years researching, designing and building a completely green beauty business.
"In a field where you are so fashion forward and so into the moment of making yourself look good, you forget all the things that are important about taking care of the environment," said Amy Martinez.
Suavizar uses and sells hair products with all-natural plant extracts that are bio-degradable. They're a little more expensive, but the plastic containers are recyclable and the salon will give you a free product if you return empty bottles.
Martinez says she uses compact fluorescent bulbs which burn 65 percent less energy than traditional bulbs and, she says, give stylists and clients a better look at hair color.
The salon has recycled rubber floors, which are eco-friendly and give stylists more cushion under their feet.
"The rubber floors were a must, they're the trendiest thing, but they're very cool because they're recycled," said Martinez.
On the floor, throughout the salon, are small chutes.
Suction pulls hair through the chutes and at the end of each day, Martinez winds up with a clump of hair.
Suavizar sends it to a company which turns the hair into mats used to clean up oil spills.
The salon washes its linens in cold water to cut down on energy use and also uses green cleaning products.
All the stylists share products from one central station to cut down on waste and overuse. "When you can reduce what you're using, you're not spending as much, but you're also helping someone," according to Martinez.
Haircuts at Suavizar run anywhere from $47 to $80.
More Information:
Suavizar Salon
Hair Recycling
Natural Hair Products
Chemical Industry's Environmental Initiative
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