Local Salon Receives Partners in Education Award

In late October, All About You! Salon received the Partners in Education award for the second year in a row for its work with Golden Brook School.

According to Danielle Downs, a stylist at the salon, they have been going to the school for nearly a decade for Teacher Appreciation Week. There, the company has done nails for the teachers, a tradition that the school approached them about.

"It was something different for them, so we said 'sure we'll do it,' said Downs. "We've been doing it ever since."

It wasn't until last year that a letter came in the mail nominating them for the "Gold Circle" award, an accolade celebrating partnerships in volunteer programs between schools and local businesses.

Downs said that a bunch of different people are nominated, and there is a criteria that you have to meet to be chosen. Winners are recognized at a reception at the Radisson in Manchester.

Apart from its work with the teachers at GBS, All About You! Salon also helps out the school district in other ways. Lynne Reilly, another stylist at the salon, said that each fall the business offers free haircuts to student who can't afford them. They will even cut a student's hair right at the high school if the family can't afford transportation.

Other programs that they were involved in last year were the Pantene Beautiful Lengths event at Windham High School as well as the Make-A-Wish foundation. Downs said that they are planning on working with Make-A Wish again this year.

Along with their award, Downs and Reilly were recently contacted by the Better Business Bureau, where they were told that All About You! was being accredited. According to the BBB website, to be accredited means to uphold a "dedication to ethics," as well as "building trust with customers."

For Downs, she believes their accolades are a product of operating an enjoyable and relaxing salon.

"Even though we're small, we've never really tried to be big," said Downs. "Our thing is just come in (and) just have fun. Everybody always says this place is so comfortable."