My stylist has a new home and I'm very happy about that.
I guess you could say I've followed Terra around for the past 10 years. When she was still in school, I drove to Gaston County. I braved her years at Varji (with a little cheating on her in between). I say braved solely because I always feel awkward in SouthPark. I assume that's because I like to wear yoga pants in public. And by yoga pants, I mean not Lululemon which appears to be the official uniform of SouthPark moms.
Back to Illuminate, this is a really cute co-op type salon situated in the same little strip mall as Green With Envy and Malibu Nails. It's cozy and inviting. I think Olivia J nailed it in her review when she said it's gorgeous without feeling too stuffy. The receptionist I dealt with may possibly be the nicest person on the planet. We're talking Trader Joe's level nice. I like that they call the day before your appointment to confirm.
As for Terra, she's great. She's my go-to. I always love my hair. I don't know enough about hair to fully even compliment her, except for what I always say about her: I plan to hire her as my personal stylist when I win the lottery (don't worry everyone, I never remember to play the lottery, so looks like I won't be stealing her anytime soon). And unlike many salons, she's not ridiculously overpriced. If you're looking for a stylist, I highly recommend. She's one of my absolute favorites in Charlotte, along with Kenna (New Seele), Erica (Salon 42), and Mel (Therapy).