Kool Running’s Hair Salon is open for business at 7-45840 Yale Road.
“Me and Trud had been talking about this for a long time,” Bill Knight said in the bright waiting area of the new salon, while his wife and lead stylist Trudith finished up with a client at her station.
This Cultus Lake couple was no stranger to the salon environment, but they were all too aware of a gap in the local hair styling market.
Looking for a full-service salon that caters to ethnic hair types, Trudith would regularly make the long trip to a Surrey salon for her own hair-care needs.
Finally, they decided it was time to take matters into their own capable hands.
Trudith had learned the tricks of the hair trade while working at a family salon back in Jamaica, where she grew up.
“In the Chilliwack community, we have a lot of mixed kids and a lot of African-American people coming in,” she explained. “They need a stylist like myself that understands their hair type.”
But the doors of Kool Running’s Hair Salon (a nod to her roots) are open and welcoming for everyone’s hair needs.
The stylists offer far more than cuts, colouring, and styling. They do perms, braids, cornrows, extensions, dread twists, and wig services, as well as chemical relaxing, deep conditioning treatments and more.
They haven’t forgotten the men either – Kool Running’s provides a range of barber services as well.
Back when they were hunting for their perfect location in the summer of 2015, “we were getting a bit discouraged with the selection,” Trudith explained. They reluctantly expanded their search to Abbotsford, “but we wanted to be close to home.”
As they drove down Yale Road in July, that’s when she saw it. A little ‘For Sale’ sign in a vacant space between Little Trattoria and Happy Orthodontics.
“It needed a lot of work,” Bill said. But the spot had great bones and large windows, situated with centralized street exposure, so they decided it was worth a shot.
“Putting it together was fun, because we did it together,” Bill smiled. He pointed out the eye-catching design of the walls and signage, the modern furnishings, and the ample mirrors and lighting necessary for clients to check themselves out after a great service.
The gorgeous finished product was revealed at their grand opening in October.
“This has always been a dream of hers,” Bill said, with great pride for his wife. “There’s nothing like doing something you love.”
“It’s all about connecting with people,” Trudith added.
“My clients stop in even if they’re not here for a service, just to catch up,” she said. “When they walk in, there’s a smile. When they leave, there’s a laugh.”
Check them out at koolrunningshairsalon.ca, and see some before and after transformations on their Facebook page.
The salon is open Tuesday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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