APRIL 16, 2009 ISSUE
Business Spotlight
Tommy Light Hair Color Studio—A Sanctuary for You and Your Hair
Tommy Light, owner of Tommy Light Hair Color Studio in Boone, provides an intimate setting for his clients—many of whom have been with him for more than a decade—and service that his backed by his more than 20 years in the cosmetology industry. Photo by Sam Calhoun
On the top floor of 141 Doctors Drive in Boone, people are doing something good for their health. No, it’s not a local doctor, chiropractor or physical therapist office; it is, rather, a sanctuary from the stresses of everyday life where locals and visitors come out feeling beautiful, renewed and refreshed.
Welcome to Tommy Light Hair Color Studio, a boutique hair salon that specializes in hair color. Boone-native and 20-year cosmetology veteran Tommy Light owns the salon, which he runs by himself with the help of one student assistant, Sarah Lafille from Watauga High School.
Becoming content with his work life has been a commanding force in Light’s life since a young age and, since achieving that goal in 1994 when he finally struck out on his own, customers have been benefiting from his fulfillment.
After graduating from Watauga High School, Light enrolled at ASU, but he soon realized he was just going through the motions—his real love was hair. Needing a change, Light left ASU in 1985 and enrolled in cosmetology school at Caldwell Community College. His stay at Caldwell, though, was short lived, as he moved to Washington, D.C. one year later to search for more job opportunities.
“My plan was to do hair, major in English and then maybe become a food critic for a magazine,” said Light. “In Washington, though, I realized I had gone as far as I could go.”
Light left D.C. in 1990, returned to Boone and re-enrolled in cosmetology school. In six months he had a degree and went to work at a hair salon in downtown Boone. Not just any hair salon—it was a large, fast-paced and somewhat commercialized salon with receptionists, shampoo stations, five people getting their hair cut and five people waiting.
“It was too much for me,” said Light, who yearned for a more intimate setting where he and his clients could feel more at ease.
In 1994, Light left the downtown salon and started operating Tommy Light Hair and Skin Studio out of his home in the High Country. At the time, Light offered other cosmetology services in addition to cuts and colors, such as pedicures, manicures and skin care, but when other nail and skin businesses opened in the area, Light narrowed his niche to just hair cuts and colors.
Three years ago, Light moved from his home studio to a new location at 141 Doctors Drive, above Blue Ridge Plastic Surgery. The studio is a one-chair, intimate operation, which Light prefers.
“This way, there’s never more than two to three people here at one time. It makes people feel comfortable; I feel comfortable, and people like to know that they can talk about anything they want without people eavesdropping,” said Light.
The approach works. Light boasts a large repeat clientele, and some of his best clients, he said, are those who have been coming to his salon since they were young. It’s hard to tell if the repeat clientele keep coming back for Light’s relaxing atmosphere or his skill with scissors and color, but they do and he loves every minute of it.
“I chase creativity. I love anything creative or anyone being creative,” said Light. “Hair color is my creative specialty. I love making people feel happy, younger and better about themselves. People know my creations will look good today when you leave the salon, tomorrow when you wake up and still getting you compliments when it’s time to come back.”
Light prides himself on being open minded and sensitive to people’s own opinions about their hair. Describing himself as 50 percent artist and 50 percent technician, Light can tackle any want or need for hair and hair color, is not “scissor happy,” he said, and does not push his own opinions about styles unless asked, or until he and the client get to know each other.
Light is also involved in community outreach through his inclusion of a student assistant from Watauga High School. A tireless supporter of his alma mater, Light provided hair styling services for Watauga High School plays for 15 years before the high school started its own cosmetology program. Now, Light employees a student from the program, teaching her all he knows while she prepares to graduate from high school with a cosmetology license.
Tommy Light Hair Color Studio also assists in local weddings and encourages bridal parties to schedule a Saturday at his salon where they can bring catering, hang out in a private setting and all get their hair done for an afternoon.
Light is currently taking new customers; appointments are not required but appreciated. Because his salon is absent of many extravagant bells and whistles, Light can keep his prices reasonable, and all repeat customers regularly receive a 15 percent discount, whether they know it or not, he said.
“For the moment, I’m enjoying things just the way they are, but I’m always welcome to change,” said Light. “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t wake up excited to go to work.”
Tommy Light Hair Color Studio is located at 141 Doctors Drive in Boone, above Blue Ridge Plastic Surgery. The studio is open from 9:00 a.m. to early evening Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to around 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. Appointments are not required but appreciated. For more information, call 828-262-3861.
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