TuLulah: A New Organic Hair Salon in Granby

People searching for an organic hair salon in the area have to look no further than the recently opened TuLulah Salon and Organics at 4 Park Place in Granby.

After spending years working in various salons, Granby resident Tracey Gangi and East Granby resident Amy Baker decided to open TuLulah - a play on their nicknames AmyLu and TraceyTu - in its 600-square foot space next to Tina's Ice Cream in mid-January.

The two owners did so to create the atmosphere; offer the brand of products; and develop the level of customer service that are apt reflections of them.

“It was something that we’ve wanted to do for a while together and we thought we would have fun doing it,” Baker said.

Indeed, they have plenty of experience in the hairstyling business, with Gangi having worked in it for 22 years and Baker for 17. Gangi grew up in hair salons, as her mother owns and operates one in Winsted. It’s where the two owners of TuLulah met each other 17 years ago and ultimately decided to strike out on their own.

“We were close [to opening a salon] for a couple of years,” said Gangi. “The beauty of it is this [space] was already a salon.”

In addition to offering a clean, comfortable and peaceful atmosphere at TuLulah (beverages such as organic coffee and tea, juices, and beer and wine for later appointments are offered and the salon has free WiFi), Gangi and Baker use only organic products for coloring, cleansing, styling and other services available.

Baker said that she wanted to open an organic salon after noticing that she was developing rashes and eye irritation from working with the products at other salons.

“We created a place that people enjoy coming to and also can be away from the chemicals that we’ve been around for so long,” Gangi added. “You can’t escape [the chemicals in most salons]. We wanted to be healthier and use healthier products on the market. It benefits the clients. It benefits us. … Working in an environment that was free of harsh chemicals became an exciting idea. And to have a great smelling, healthy salon for our clients to come to is paramount.”  

TuLulah offers cuts, color, highlights, blow outs, special occasion styles, and facial waxing. Baker and Gangi provide services for men and women using Organic Salon Systems products, as well as John Masters Organics.

The prices at TuLulah are comparable to other salons, with men’s cuts going for $25, and women’s cuts going for $45. A retouch color costs about $70, and highlights are between $25 and $125. A formal hairstyling goes for about $85.

“We try to keep it reasonable,” Baker said. “The products may cost a little bit more, but we don’t want to overprice ourselves.”

Tululah will also soon add an organic curl system for permanent waves, and the KeraGreen Keratin & Protein Hair System for smoothing, according to Gangi.

So far, the salon has built a steady, loyal customer base.

Granby resident Karen Michaud and her 93-year-old mother stop in every week for a shampoo and a blow dry, and every six weeks Michaud gets her hair highlighted.

“It’s lovely,” Michaud said in a recent telephone interview. “It’s soothing and clean and the girls have created a wonderful atmosphere. It’s private and I love the products. [The products] do as good a job, if not better, as I’ve ever used. … I’ve been to many places over the last 25 years, and the color [Baker and Gangi] use is right on. It lasts and it doesn’t look artificial.”

Michaud said that Baker and Gangi go so far as to help Michaud’s mother from the parking lot to walk into the salon. What’s more, Michaud said that Baker and Gangi have been “very accommodating with appointments.”

TuLulah is open during regular business hours during the week, and on nights and weekends by appointment.

For more information on TuLulah, visit its Facebook page here.