Live from the Red Carpet...It's Ambiance Salon
Deidra Bowling-Meade
The Ashland Beacon
It’s awards season, which means time to roll out the red carpet, dress for success, drink champagne, eat fancy hors d'oeuvres, and socialize with the award winners and stylish clientele! Ambiance Salon in Ashland, Kentucky hosted a red carpet event this February to honor their clients as well as give awards to those making a difference in the cosmetology business.
The year 2023 marks 17 years Tabitha and Eric Coyer have owned Ambiance Salon. Tabitha stated, “I decided to focus on kicking off year 17 with the Red Carpet Team Awards, Student and Client Awards, and a customer appreciation event. We started with the Red Carpet Awards, followed by a party and sale. We offered BOGO half off AVEDA and 10% OFF Aladdin's Art Gallery Gifts. Our heart is to offer a high-quality service to the tristate. We are the first to admit we are not without human error and computer glitches, but this was a time to focus on our strengths and spotlight what makes our salon a wonderful place to be.” Ambiance Salon specializes in hair, nails, lashes, microblading, and express facials. It is also an exclusive AVEDA salon, which means only AVEDA haircare, color, and skincare are used.
Tabitha Coyer has been a cosmetologist for 26 years. She graduated from Bellefonte Academy of Beauty and worked the first 10 years at Crawford Hairdressers. Coyer stated, “I served alongside some of our area's most talented artists, and I will be forever grateful for their help and friendship.” From that experience, Coyer embarked on the journey of owning her own business. Being an owner of Ambiance Salon requires hard work, dedication, and the ability to work as a team player. Coyer explained, “I believe faith in God, people, integrity, quality, cooperation, and pure grit is what it takes to have a successful business. Our team consists of a variety of ages from new mothers, to great-grandmothers, and everything in between. This makes for a nice mix to encourage learning and growing together.”
Two of the main cosmetologists who have worked with Tabitha since she became owner are Shannon Humphrey and Nellis Haller. Humphrey commented she enjoys working at the salon because of “the spirit of unity” and attributed the success of her business to God and the dedication to working hard. Haller, who has 42 years experience in cosmetology, credited Ambiance’s success to the ability to accommodate all clients. Haller stated, “If I can’t do it, the other girls can. You know your cosmetologist's name is out there whether it be good or bad. We want you to look in the mirror and feel good about yourself. It’s always nice to appreciate clients who trust in you to keep them looking and feeling great.”
Several clients came out to celebrate with Ambiance Salon and walked the red carpet. Kathy Conner, who has been a client of Shannon Humphrey for 17 years at Ambiance Salon commented, “I love the religious atmosphere. I feel very comfortable, and it’s just a wonderful place to come.” One of the most touching stories from Ambiance’s red carpet event involved two best friends, Paula Gannon and Nellis Haller. The two women have been life-long friends. Gannon has gone to Haller to get her hair done for 40 years. When Haller started working at Ambiance Salon, Gannon followed and has become a friend and encourager to the entire Ambiance team and clients. Fridays at the salon have been their time to eat lunch together as well as encourage one another, laugh and have a good time. “Fridays are just special,” proclaimed Gannon.
Everyone at Ambiance has supported Gannon through family losses and even helped with her grandson, who learned to walk on the floors of the salon. Truly, Ambiance Salon provides more than cosmetology services; it’s a caring family. Gannon remarked, “I was thinking of Proverbs 31 on my way here and the virtuous woman. God wants us to take care of our bodies, so that we can endure and face trials and hardships that we face. This is a wonderful place to do that. You can feel God’s presence. It’s not just a beauty shop; it’s a place to refresh and take care of yourself with blessings of God, family, and friends.”
The spirit of unity and Christian atmosphere can be seen before one even walks in the door. The sign for Ambiance Salon can be seen with a Bible verse on one side, serving as a beacon of hope for the community. Coyer remarked, “We have survived these turbulent times because of an amazing God, team, and clients. We are very grateful for all the love and support that has been shown to us throughout the years and plan on hosting this event annually. The Red Carpet Awards and Customer Appreciation was a way to celebrate and show appreciation to everyone who is a part of the success of our salon. We are better together.” Ambiance Salon is located at 3045 Winchester Ave, Ashland. Appointments can be made by calling: 606.324.6171.
Check out Ambiance’s Red Carpet Winners: Rising Star- Carrie Perrock, ACTC Cosmetology Student; Top Fan - Linda Wilson, Client; VIP- Leslie Cauldill, Client
Team Awards
AVEDA - Lori Griffith, Cosmetologist; Ready, Set, Go- Melanie McPherson, Lash & Makeup Artist; Marketing-Jenny Millhouse, Nail Artist; Encourager-Paula Gannon, Client; Team Player-Nellis Haller, Cosmetologist; Kindness-Mika Jones,Cosmetologist; Detail-Beth Osborn, Salon Manager; Pride-Dreama Damron, Housekeeping; Big Idea-Shannon Humphrey, Cosmetologist; Ninja-Darrell Thompson, Volunteer; Spirit of Ambiance-Debbie Thompson, Salon Manager.