High Fivin’
Sam Hills is the head stylist at High Five Salon, an artfully cozy boutique salon in O’bryonville. I was fortunate to have him cut and style my hair the morning of New Year’s eve, an appointment I’d been anticipating for weeks. You see, High Five isn’t your run-of-the-mill salon. The instant you enter the place, you just feel a little more comfortable in your own skin. From their manifesto on the wall proclaiming “bold love, fresh looks” to window decals reminding passersby they “look great today,” it’s clear the mission of the team is to inspire beauty from the inside out. As Sam cut and styled my hair into awesome 70’s-chic coif, I asked him about his work, from his serendipitous entry into the world of hair to his personal style and punk rock roots. He’s clearly passionate about what he does, and as you can see from the results below, he’s certainly not lacking in the talent department. The rest of High Five’s stylists are equally impressive—I’ve gone to the lovely Christine several times and Samantha helped with the arduous task of blowing out my lion’s mane. Beyond feeling like a new woman with my straightened locks, I was renewed and encouraged by the team’s genuine interest in me as well as the other patrons—not as paying customers, but as friends. Evidenced by its interior design, complimentary hand massages and local artists’ work showcased on the whitewashed birch walls, High Five is one of many Cincinnati gems reaching above the status quo to serve its clientele.
The before—just sad :(
Model posin’
The finished product—glorious! Thanks Sam!!
XOXO Betsy
