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BruHill Spa'lon breaks the mold for customers

Date: 7/25/2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

CHICOPEE — A new salon in the center of Chicopee is breaking the mold by featuring hair stylists for white, African-American and Hispanic customers as well as having a barber on staff for men.

Michelle Bruno, one of the co-owners of BruHill Spa'lon at 165 Front St., explained the hair styling industry is divided along lines of race, gender, and ethnicity. For Bruno, this posed a problem for her and her bi-racial daughter and they had long searched for a salon where they would both be comfortable.

"We could never have that," she said.

Bruno said the new business, which opened in April and recently had a ribbon cutting, is the first of its kind in Western Massachusetts.

"[The salon] has been an incredible dream of ours," she added.

The decision to seek a location in Chicopee, she said, was the city's own ethnic diversity.

"It's a melting pot kind of city, " Bruno said.

Bruno is a nail technician, while her partners Tamara Hill and Devon Hill are stylists. The salon features eight stations and five stylists, two nail technicians and a barber.

Located in part of the Cabotville complex, the front door of the salon is on Front Street. Inside the converted storage space, Bruno and her partners have created a space of exposed brick.

"It has a renovated factory look," Bruno said. "It's manly and romantic at the same time," she added with a smile.

The partners renovating the space in October 2011 and installed new plumbing and built out the rooms of the space.

She said the addition of a barber gives the salon greater appeal and flexibility. In the era of the single parent, having stylists for both men and women means a mother could bring her son or a father could bring his daughter and both could get services, Bruno said.

In the future, Bruno hopes the salon can add a massage therapist to the mix of services.

The salon is open seven days a week and walk-ins are welcome. Bruno said every customer receives a consultation prior to a styling to insure they get the look they want.

"No one can walk away. Everyone is welcome here," Bruno said.

For more information, call 331-3663.