In 1997, hairstylist Barry King had a vision. Now, his dream of owning a hair salon is realized after 10 years as the leading multicultural, multilingual and multiracial place to go for the newest and latest "do" in the State College community.

State College's first multicultural hair salon, Visions Multicultural Hair Design, 357 Calder Way, celebrated its anniversary in August.

"I think it's a big success, not just for Barry King, but for being able to stay open that long," Nery Anes, a stylist at Visions, said of the salon and owner King.

Anes moved to State College this past January from New York City where she worked in Manhattan as a hair stylist for 25 years. Anes is the newest addition to Visions and said she is happy to join the team.

Donna King, Barry King's wife and Visions co-creator and business manager, recalls rough times starting out just a decade ago.

"When you try to promote diversity, you're met with adversity," Donna King said about the opening. "What we were doing was a new concept, kind of a paradigm shift for the community. It was different from the culture of the town at the time."

Donna King recalled that the salon has supported a lot of avenues for change.

"Over the years the State College community has had issues, and we would be at the pulse of what was going on with a lot of students," she said. "Making the community part of our focus was part of our service as well."

Barry King worked at three other hair salons in State College before opening his own, and he said he believes Visions has succeeded for numerous reasons.

"We have a lot of inner-city kids who come from different backgrounds," he said about some of his customers. "It's been a good relationship. Sometimes they need people they can talk to, especially with the college experience when you are away from home."

Customer Chelsea Wilson (senior-business management) agreed.

"[It] kind of reminds me of home. I get this soulful vibe from it," Wilson said.

Wilson said she heard good things about the salon and checked it out.

"I usually do my hair myself or have one of my friends do it," Wilson said. "I couldn't find another place that was reasonably priced until I came here. I've told a couple of my friends about it since I found out about it."

Ronald Jackson, professor of communication, arts and sciences, has been going to Visions for nine years, nearly since its inception.

"You could always count on Barry King for decent service," Jackson said. "He has basically been a cornerstone of the black community in State College."

Charles Tyndall, a professor in the School of Theatre who is also a customer, said he believes Visions is necessary for this community and is glad it has been such a important part of State College and Penn State these past years.

"I'm glad it's there, especially coming from a real black barbershop experience," Tyndall said about the time he spent living in New York -- an experience he describes as very "ethnographic."

Jackson said King had to contend with a system "that was unusual for a barber doing things by appointment."

"He wanted to be professional. He's definitely meant a lot to this community," he said. "It's been great having him here."

Donna King said she still believes Visions stresses the same point it did when first starting out.
"We've come a long way, but still have the same goal of diversity awareness," she said.

When asked how Visions would carry out the next 10 years of business, King replied, "continuing the professionalism" and "maintaining the excellent service."

Tyndall agreed, saying "Barry King is very down with the people."