New salon offers free haircuts for back-to-school

With A.Studio out of Tuscumbia opening its second location, A.Studio II, in Russellville in mid-July, the locally-owned hair salon has hit the ground running when it comes to getting established in the community. A.Studio II will open its doors Monday to offer free haircuts for children in advance of the first day of school.

“We try to uplift our community at all times, and we love giving back,” said owner and stylist Shawn Abernathy. “Come out and meet us and enjoy a free haircut for the kids. That’s one less thing for parents to have to worry about.”

A.Studio II will offer free cuts for children ages 2-17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 5. Abernathy said at the same event at her Tuscumbia location July 29, she and her stylists gave 217 free haircuts. 

“We’re thinking we’re going to have more actually in Russellville,” said Abernathy, who said she opened the second location to serve her client base in Russellville as well as Moulton and Cullman. “We’ve got little chairs lined up.”

Abernathy said she has hired additional stylists for the day to help handle the demand, and she also hopes to offer face painting for children to enjoy while they wait. 

“It’s just something we do to give back. We do it every year in Tuscumbia, and I thought I’d do it in Russellville because there’s a lot of people who need it,” Abernathy said. “I moved down here from Chicago about four years ago, and I had not one client. Now we’re growing and growing … We were blessed, so we just want everyone else to be blessed also.”

Abernathy said getting that first-day-of-school cut can help boost a child’s self-confidence and prepare them for the new year, much like a hearty breakfast can prepare them for each new day. 

“Some people aren’t fortunate to get new school clothes,” she pointed out, “and they just need a fresh start at the beginning of the new year.”

The salon is located at 108 Jackson Ave. S. in downtown Russellville.