New West Side salon offers hair coaching

Hair

Jake Spitzack
Staff Writer

If your thick mane or avalanche of curls seems to have a mind of its own and the self-help tips you’ve tried just aren’t working, it may be time to seek help from a professional tamer – in this case, a hair stylist and coach. One such option is Aubriana Jackson, who opened The Curl District hair salon at 674 Smith Ave. S. this summer and held a grand opening event in late August. She works with all hair textures and styles, and her mission is to educate customers of all races about their hair so they can keep it healthy and looking good.

“Oftentimes we don’t talk about how the industry is still very segregated,” said Jackson. “The mission statement for The Curl District is literally to desegregate the beauty industry by creating an inclusive space where people – regardless of race, gender or hair texture – can come in.”

The Curl District offers a variety of services including aromatherapy and complimentary hair steaming. Jackson specializes in coloring, and her most popular services are blowouts and silk presses. Much of her branding boasts a luxury experience for women, but she works with men, too – just about the only thing she won’t do is clipper cuts, as she’s not a barber.

She hopes to hire another stylist eventually but for now she’s on her own. This winter she would also like to organize networking events for
salons and barbershops to discuss strategies for working with different hair textures and styles, share product recommendations and ultimately “elevate the whole beauty industry in the Twin Cities,” she said. The lifelong St. Paulite and the fourth of five sisters has taught cosmetology part-time for about two years at St. Paul College, her alma mater.

Operating her own salon has been a longtime dream and a few years in the making. In 2019 she took some business courses and registered The Curl District as a business. She worked as an independent contractor at a friend’s salon in Minneapolis and eventually found her own building last December.

The salon is located in a former eyelash studio and was transformed over about six months. Jackson single-handedly completed the makeover, including painting and laying much of the new tile floor, but hired professionals for plumbing. It’s open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Sat., and early bird and night owl appointments are available by request. For more information, call 612-743-8663 or visit thecurldistrict.com.

(October 2024)