Salon and day spa makes customers comfortable

By Melanie LeMay

PARAGON SALON AND DAY SPA

Number of locations: 1 Years in business: 5 months Gross sales: Not available

Michael Turner, owner of Paragon Salon and Day Spa, works on a precision haircut in his studio on the fourth-floor loft of the historic Union Station in Montgomery.

MONTGOMERY - In his travels around the world, Michael Turner has noticed one thing.

"You find the best of the best in the heart of the major cities." That's why Turner knew Union Station in downtown Montgomery would be the ideal spot for his new, trendy and very upscale Paragon Salon and Day Spa.

Turner first saw the empty third floor and loft spaces in the old Water Street depot late last year. "As soon as I saw it, I knew it was perfect," he said. He incorporated the depot's original brick walls, arching windows and heavy beams into the salon's eclectic design.

The salon stretches along much of Union Station's third floor as well as much of the loft. A blend of contemporary and traditional furnishings coexist comfortably with earth-toned walls and wooden shutters, and pools of sunlight spill through wide windows with spectacular views of downtown Montgomery and the Alabama River.

The many individual rooms in the space give Paragon's clients an unusual degree of privacy. Turner, a longtime hair stylist who is now an international guest artist for a well-known company called Prive, has visited high-end salons all over the world.

"I know how important it is to deliver first-rate customer service," he said, "and part of that is creating an atmosphere that makes your clients feel comfortable."

Feeling comfortable at Paragon is the result of more than just a terry-cloth spa robe and some personal pampering, however. Turner said Paragon stands out among its competitors because he requires so much training for his staff.

"Our junior stylists and apprentices are required to take a new training class at least once a week," Turner said, "and our master stylists must go at least once a month."

In a field that is constantly changing, Turner knows from personal experience that being the best is a lifelong process.

A former Air Force medic, Turner first realized the profit potential in hair styling as he watched his cousin, Gina Mount, develop her own successful clientele. "At first I just thought I'd go into hair styling to have a lucrative part-time job," Turner said, "but I still set my goals high as far as learning as much about the field as I could."

Turner had a knack for the business and eventually went to work for Matrix as a color artist. Now he has become an expert in precision cutting and styling, and trains stylists worldwide. Turner has a studio all to himself at Paragon for the clients he sees locally. It's a quiet, sunny room in the loft with wide arched windows and odd-angled walls. Paragon is designed for relaxation, so its sophistication is understated. This is a place where the latest trends are recognized and embraced, however, so clients relaxing in the loft's overstuffed chairs can watch the latest in international runway shows via triple-screen video feed.

The salon carries Prive's all-natural styling products, developed by French master stylist Laurent Dufourg. The products are enriched with herbs like comfrey, lemongrass, jojoba, chamomile and nettle, and are popular with models and celebrities such as Teri Hatcher and Debra Messing.

Paragon's resident makeup artist works with clients in a quiet corner on the third floor. The spa carries a line called glominerals, makeup products infused with antioxidant blends of vitamins C, A, E, K and even green tea extract.

The spa also offers therapeutic massage, microderma abrasion, waxing, manicures, pedicures, artificial nails and paraffin treatments. Clients can customize their spa packages, with a two-service package starting at about $120.

Melanie LeMay is a freelance writer based in Montgomery