Aces of Trades: A. Castle Hair offers one-on-one experience with each guest
CHILLICOTHE – To her, a hair stylist is much more than, well, a stylist.
“Growing up I had a very normal childhood,” noted Alexandria Castle. “I was active in my school’s drama club, on the dance team, I was a cheerleader and a softball player. I never saw myself doing hair. I always thought I would go to college and help others by becoming a nurse.”
Today, Castle owns and operates A. Castle Hair.
“A. Castle Hair opened in the old First National Bank on June 1, 2022,” she said. “I can only describe it as the most terrifying and exciting thing I have ever done. The salon is a studio salon, and I’m the owner and only stylist. I love offering a one-on-one experience with each of my guests. When a guest comes into my salon my goal is for them to have a relaxing and luxurious experience. They can come in and leave all their stresses at the door.”
Castle grew up in southern Ohio. After high school she went to Shawnee State and then transferred to Rio Grande to study history and nursing.
“I didn’t have a set career after college,” she said. “I had a few friends who would randomly ask me to cut their hair and during one of those haircuts one of them said, ‘You really should do this for a living.’ Exactly a week later I started my career at the Aveda Institute in Columbus.”
“Going to cosmetology school was the best decision I’ve ever made!” she added. “It really ignited the passion I had desperately been looking for. I was able to ‘help’ others but in a different way. After graduation I went on to work for a few corporate-owned salons. It was a great learning experience, but I knew I was meant for more. I set a goal for myself to go off on my own and eventually open my own salon. It was a five year goal. From there, I started booth renting my chair. I gained some of the best knowledge from the owners of the salons I rented a chair from! They were so positive and so helpful to me in.”
Now, Trish and Alvin Mares with Mares Cares Counseling are both “guests” at A. Castle Hair.
“Alex has the biggest heart of anyone I know,” assessed Trish. “She’s always positive so when I leave, not only has she done a terrific job, but I feel better about the town and world in general. Thankfully, Alex does a great job for both of us. She’s a phenomenal stylist and I love that I’ve found her. She’s really magical.”
“Being a hairstylist/salon owner is my passion,” Castle responded. “Hair is my canvas and I’m the artist. I love that I can take a guest’s idea and bring it to life.”
“I want every person who leaves my salon to feel loved, understood and important,” she summed. “Life can be a challenge but having support from others and feeling like you’re being heard is so important. I give that to every person who sits in my chair. I feel incredibly blessed to wake up every day and share my passion with the community. I couldn’t imagine my life or career being any different.”
A. Castle Hair is located at 27 W 2nd Street in Chillicothe. For more information, look on Facebook.
About the Series
Aces of Trades is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs – whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at gaznews@nncogannett.com or 740-349-1110.
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Aces of Trades: A. Castle Hair offers one-on-one experience with each guest
