Find out how VCS Salon & Spa stays on the cutting edge of beauty trends
By Laura Briedis
A lot has changed in the 40 years since the Mahoney family opened the Village Clip Shoppe in Medina’s old Victorian Village.
The original building that housed the salon was demolished to make room for the library parking lot, so the salon moved down the street into a new home. Its name was shortened to VCS Salon & Spa. And the popular Dorothy Hamill-inspired wedge and Carol Brady’s shag hairstyles have given way to sleek long bobs and long tresses with soft curls.
But a lot has remained the same as Coleen Morlock and Mary Kay Hallas—Lucy Mahoney’s daughters who now own the salon—have the same steadfast commitment to clients and the community. Genuine customer service and giving back to the community remain pillars of the salon.
“We are celebrating our 40th anniversary by looking forward to new beginnings,” says Coleen, who is a graduate of Medina High School and champion of everything local.
What started as a two-chair barbershop has evolved over the past four decades to offer a multitude of salon and spa services for both men and women. Located three blocks from the square, the salon was remodeled this year to add more styling stations to accommodate its growing clientele and staff.
Exuding an urban modern rustic vibe with a pretty palette of gray and terra cotta on the walls, nutmeg leather styling chairs, a stone accent wall, gray and brown wood-hued flooring—and a touch of bling in the chandelier—the salon is energized with stylishness and elegance.
More than just hair services, a spa area provides a calm and peaceful oasis, offering facials, massages, body scrubs, makeup, body waxing, spray tanning, manicures and pedicures.
“Even with our renovation, we remain a nice blend of the new and old-time feel of Medina,” adds Coleen, who, along with Mary Kay, still works behind the chair cutting hair, as well as training new hairstylists.
Fall/Winter Color Trends
All of the stylists are well versed in the latest beauty trends, including advanced Redken coloring techniques.
“Red and copper hair color is on trend,” says Mary Kay. “And we are still doing a lot of fantasy colors like magenta, pale pink and purple.”
“For the holidays, hair color can freshen up your look and add shine,” she says.
For those with curly hair, VCS Salon & Spa offers Deva Curl’s Pintura coloring technique. Each curl is painted individually to best highlight natural curls and boost the hair’s brilliance and dimension.
Curls, Curls, Curls
One of only a handful of certified DevaCurl salons in Northeast Ohio, 14 of the salon’s stylists are certified in this advanced cutting technique for curly hair.
“Clients are embracing their curls and natural waves,” says Mary Kay. “And our DevaCurl cutting and styling technique makes it easy for them.”
This haircutting technique brings out the best in natural curls, as hair is cut in its natural form when it is dry and not wet for a better haircut.
After a haircut that is tailored to each client’s volume and degree of curl, he or she is treated to a shampoo and condition with the sulfate-free, botanically infused DevaCurl products, and the salon sells a full line of retail products for at-home use.
Masters in Beauty Academy
To stay at the forefront of trends and techniques, VCS Salon & Spa is amping up its hands-on designer training program.
“We are always welcoming new stylists to our team and helping to create new jobs in Medina,” says Mary Kay.
“With our in-house MBA (Masters in Beauty Academy) program, we create opportunities for stylists to become leaders and provide a place for them to grow professionally. This also assures our clients that they are getting the best trained and educated stylists in town.”
Coleen credits the salon’s training program for its booming growth and propelling it as a leader in the industry. Led by Mary Kay, all new hairstylists go through extensive in-salon training for another four to six months after graduating from beauty school. Working as a team, these protégés work hand-in-hand with the master designers to perfect advanced hair coloring and cutting skills.
“As our salon continues to evolve and grow, we remain committed to preserving the historic Medina neighborhood,” says Coleen.
“We are excited to be part of the revitalization of South Town, the area a couple blocks south of The Square.”
VCS Salon & Spa is located at 410 South Court Street. Hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For an appointment, call 330-723-3998. Visit VCSSalon.com for more information.