Students looking for hairstylist may have choppy experience

Choosing a new hair salon could be a huge task, especially for those new to the State College area.

So some students opt to go home for haircuts.

Krissy Bluff (sophomore-food science) said her decision to continue going home to Honesdale for haircuts was influenced by the fact that her friend had gone to a hair salon in downtown State College and the cut was a complete disaster.

"I had to go with her to get it fixed," Bluff said. "For now, I think I'm going to stick to going home."

Because many students care about their appearances, they prefer to get their hair done by a stylist they know, said Beth Wilt (senior-Spanish).

"Besides the prices at home being cheaper, I trust my hair stylist from home and I would rather go home than go to a hair salon downtown," she said.

However, some students decide to go to hair salons in State College because prices are less expensive.

The prices at The Hair Construction Co., 329 E. Calder Way, compete with the prices of the hair salons in Kelly Jean Erwin's hometown, she said.

"Their prices are less expensive than some of the salons at home," said Erwin (freshman-division of undergraduate studies).

Jennifer Lopiano, owner of The Hair Construction Co., said she checked prices at Philadelphia and Pittsburgh salons because many students who attend the University are from around those areas.

And the prices not only attract the female population on campus, but also the male population, she said.

"The prices have a lot to do with where I choose to get my hair done. The cheaper the better," said Scott Duffin (freshman-engineering).

Many downtown salons have a price range chart where the students are able to look at the prices before actually deciding to go in.

"It all depends on what the client wants done," said Gio Montarsi, owner of Gio's, 484 E. College Ave., about the range of prices from $18 to $22.

The experience of the hair stylists at Looks, 228 E. Calder Way, is what attracted Nancy Youssef (senior-international business accounting) to the salon.

"I usually only get my hair trimmed, but I'm satisfied with their service," Youssef said.

She said the prices for the haircuts downtown were not really a deciding factor for her compared to the experience.

Erwin said that her last deciding factor in choosing The Hair Construction Co. was the environment. The hair stylists were personable while cutting her hair, she said.

"I've gotten my hair cut three times," Erwin said, "and on all three of those times, the hair stylists were really nice."