Up-and-Coming Hair Color Specialty Salon
Continues Growth, Sets Sights on the Future

November, 2003 - It isn’t easy opening a new salon. But when she launched ColorWorks, the first hair color specialty salon in the mid-Atlantic region, Allyson Hurley knew she had a winner.

“People crave hair color. It completes their overall look,” said Hurley, who oversees ColorWorks for parent company Ratner Companies. “When we opened our first salon in Arlington, VA, we created a place for people who are serious about hair color and who demand quality service. Now with five additionallocations in Baltimore, Annapolis, and Rockville in Maryland and Fairfax and Richmond in Virginia, it’s clear that the population of serious hair color clients is growing.”

Once a tool for aging baby-boomers, color is now sought out by women and men of all ages. Fifty percent of women age 13 to 69 color their hair. Many do so at home while others are first-time color customers who typically go to salons that don’t specialize in color. Salons these days are “going spa” – with hair, nail, skincare, makeup and massage services – but Hurley says ColorWorks is going the opposite direction. “Let’s do one thing and do it better than anyone.”

All ColorWorks colorists consult extensively with the client to determine the best shade and level of color for the client. Personalized consultation is an important part of the process, Hurley said. “We tell our clients, ‘We’re all about color. Yours.’ And we really mean that,” she said.

ColorWorks is the up-and-coming division of Ratner Companies, the parent organization for Hair Cuttery in the United States and the United Kingdom. Founded by licensed stylist and CEO Dennis Ratner, the company also oversees Bubbles, Salon Cielo and Salon Plaza.