photography by JEJ PHOTOS
What started as a small dream 15 years ago, has turned into a thriving high-end specialty salon, owned and operated by Amber Woodall, a long-time resident of Winston-Salem. Amber has combined her passions of art and color to create an inclusive, chic studio located in West End. When you walk into Alkali Hair Studio, you can expect welcoming, modern vibes and a laid back, intimate experience. You are greeted by friendly receptionists and given time to look at their retail space while sipping refreshments before being taken to a private bay where your stylist will provide custom services to give you that signature look you’ve been wanting!
Amber states that her studio is set apart from others because of the extensive global training of her team and the diversity of her staff and clients. Her goal is to provide high quality services with a team that is kind and respectful and listens to the clients’ needs and style preferences. Her team is a strong cohesive unit, and she is focused on ensuring her stylists are highly trained and feel equipped to provide personalized services. In fact, stylists at Alkali have received many awards and titles for their custom services. Because of Alkali’s highly trained and knowledgeable stylists, they are part of a Titanium Tier Inner Circle with Kao, Goldwell Color and Oribe Hair Care which is an elite group of salon partners. They have also been voted as the Triad’s best places to work, and most recently, Alkali became part of the top 200 salons in North America for the second year in a row! This time, it was all about the growth and client-focused appointments that Alkali created. Amber designed a system that allowed stylists to only have one client at a time, being able to focus on the needs and desires of that client, without putting another appointment in between services. “Not only is the client more satisfied with the experience, but I found that this method also increased staff morale,” said Amber.
In addition to one-on-one appointments, clients will no longer have to question the total cost of the appointment because Alkali has moved to a time-based pricing system. This system allows stylists to recommend products and services to get the clients preferred look without each service costing a separate amount. And, if all of this wasn’t enough growth for Alkali, Amber has recently expanded and added a medical spa to the studio. A medical spa helps to blend medical technology and traditional spa treatments under one roof. Alkali knows that beauty and confidence isn’t just about hair! The team at Alkali now includes a physician and physician assistant, in addition to an esthetician. This med/spa team works together to provide services that include medical-grade skin care recommendations, Botox, Juvederm, radio frequency microneedling, chemical peels, revitalizing eye facials and a range of facial and HydraFacial options. To get you started, the med/spa team offers free skincare consultations to design and customize a treatment plan to target the root cause of your skin challenges. And, because it’s not just about the hair, we can’t forget that Alkali continues to offer brow and lash services as well as makeup application for your next night out or special event!
And, to think this all started with Amber’s original dream to provide a high-end salon specializing in custom-tailored color. Now, as of December 2023, Amber has stopped providing hair services personally to shift focus to the business. She wants to grow her team members and provide opportunities to them that aren’t typically found in a trade environment. Amber’s driven personality and business-focused goals has shaped her team to become craft hairdressers with extensive knowledge that values each other and their clients. “The non-competitive, inclusive culture of my team is so unique, and I’m so proud of what we’ve built here!” she says. If you want hair and skin that you can feel confident in, the Alkali team is where it’s at.
Find out more about Alkali by visiting the website at studioalkali.com or following them on Instagram @alkalihairstudio. They are located at 407 West End Boulevard. You can reach them at 336.724.1453.
