Cadena’s Hair Designs
Having grown up in my mom’s hair salon, I felt nostalgic walking into Cadena’s, a quaint salon located in north Columbus, at 7559 Kayne Boulevard, Suite B. The smell of clean shampoo and laughter both filled the air as I walked in and met the trio of ladies who have been running the salon for three years. A regular client smiled from under her black smock with color in her hair and said with a smile, “do you want to take my picture?” I immediately knew these were my people.
Donna Cadena, owner, Chris Fellerman and Reshenda Kavanaugh have been friends for thirty years, and they attribute much of the salon’s success to their special bond. “And smokin’-ass sales on our products,” Chris added, referring to their Monthly Madness sales, where they clear the shelves to make room for the latest products. They constantly update their product lines, with an emphasis on quality lines like JOICO to maintain the health and integrity of the hair.
I asked if they were appointment only. “We welcome walk-ins as long as we can, but as we grow we will possibly become appointment only,” Donna explained. “I chose a to have a small, calm place that values the artistry of hair as much as our personal connections.”
Donna and crew accept walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and are open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.. They can have flexible hours, too, depending on the needs of the client. I grew up knowing the value of being loyal to your ‘hair dresser,” as they were once called, and flexible hours are certainly considered for loyal customers.
“We want our clients relaxed,” Donna explained, “not listening to the phones constantly ringing. At Cadena’s, customer service is prioritized over having more clients.” The nostalgia washed over me as I listened to the familiar conversations between the ladies and all they had been through, from the days working at Gayfers in Peachtree Mall in the 1980s to Donna and Chris reuniting after several years at the Elton John concert in Columbus. When they found each other again, they had all been successful in other businesses, and decided to reunite for the salon. They have no regrets.
Donna also likes to offer unique services, and when I visited, Donna told me about a waxing service, the Hollywood Nose. “Would you like to try it?” Chris asked. I was giddy at the idea of watching my friend try it, unless Chris said to me, “you’re next.” The process involves hair removal wax being inserted into the nostril, which removes all the hair at once. Though Chris promised a painless experience, I wasn’t so sure. I would never have believed that this wouldn’t hurt, not with my experience of waxing, but to my relief, it was nothing. Not only did it not hurt, we all agreed more people should do it! This is one of the many things that separates Cadena’s from other salons. They are also well known for their skills in ombre and balayage (hair painting). Check out their website, cadenashairdesigns.com or call (706) 322-6161 for appointment information.
by April Norris