Students save at Carolina Styles

Snip. Buzz. Swish. All of these sounds can be heard on the third floor of the Russell House. Little-known Carolina Styles, a full service salon, is tucked upstairs in the Russell House.

Wanda Davis, manager and head stylist, said she’s been working at Carolina Styles a long time.

“This place has been here forever,” Davis said.

As she swept hair off the floor and rearranged shampoo bottles, she discussed why she’s been at Carolina Styles for so long.

“I’m here because I love what I do,” Davis said. “I get to meet new people everyday and just talk to them.”

At the salon, everyone is welcome. As Davis draped a cape around a male customer, they began chatting like old friends.

“I don’t have to ask him what he wants,” Davis said. “I just know.”

That man, USC employee Ron Maxfield, has been coming to the shop for over five years.

“It’s just so convenient,” Maxfield said. “We can come at any time and she does good work.”

Gregory Wallace, a third-year computer engineering student, is a barber at Carolina Styles.

He has been cutting hair since high school and works at Carolina Styles to help pay for school.

“It’s great,” said Wallace. “My hours are always flexible and it works around my class schedule.”

Wallace said he enjoys interacting with all of the different students.

“Since I go to USC, I have a sense of the style on campus,” Wallace said. “I know what people like and dislike.”

Justin Galloway, a first-year civil engineering student, came to Carolina Styles for a hair cut.

“It’s convenient because Russell House is just a short walk anywhere from campus,” Galloway said. “You come up, get your hair cut and make it to class on time without going out of your way.”

Davis said that Carolina Styles is for everyone. Students, faculty, staff and community members are all welcome. Whether man or woman and no matter your ethnicity, Carolina Styles can come up with the cut that’s right, Davis said..

“If you like doing hair, you’ll do all types,” Davis said.

Wallace said, “Hair is hair-straight, curly, waving — it’s just hair.”

Walk-ins are always welcome, and Davis will greet you with a hearty hello and direct you to one of the comfy stylist chairs. For about $15, you can walk out of the Russell House looking better than you did when you walked in.

Carolina Styles accepts the CarolinaCard and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.