Wash, lather, rinse, dry.
These are the words a person thinks of when washing their hair.
For as little as a walk to the Stony Brook Union and a quick trip down the concrete stairs into the basement, there is a place where students can relax and beautify themselves. Studio 97 is open for business.
The new unisex salon opened it doors on Halloween and since then has been one of the Stony Brook’s most innovative services.
Maria Castro-Givanni, the salon’s owner, is a nail technician who opened to accommodate every type of hair or service the students demand. “Stony Brook wanted this service for all their students, they really went out of their way,” she said.
The salon is in the same location that once housed BeautyandBrains — the male barbershop.
The new salon offers haircuts for guys as well new services for girls that were never done before. Castro-Givanni explains her salon does a little bit of everything from nails to hair, so that there is no student left without services. “We are catering to the financial needs of the college, prices are good,” she said.
With the difficulty students face with tuition, books, and slumping economy, the salon is a break for students looking to pamper themselves or just in need of a haircut.
“It was good, a lot better than the places around here,” said Matthew Emsak, a biology major, who described his impression of the salon and his news haircut.
Since many students on campus do not drive or own a car, the new salon saves them a trip into Stony Brook or nearby Lake Grove, which can be expensive and less focused on the wants and need of the students.
Salons like Axios Salon ‘ Spa in Lake Grove offer many of the same services that Studio 97 does such as perms, hair coloring, and manicures and pedicures.
Studio 97’s offers men haircuts for $12.00 and $15.00 and up for a women’s wash and blow.
They style all varieties of hair textures, styles and lengths.
“I’m trying to cover everyone’s needs,” Castro-Givanni said. “I want this to be their salon, so that they have a stress-free place to go.”
