It’s all about the little details that make Liquid Hair Salon in East Brunswick, NJ stand out from the rest.

Upon entering (or leaving) the salon, the salon’s stylists help clients take off or put on their coats and walk them to their car with an umbrella if it’s raining to keep their hair dry. They provide hot hand towels, hand massages, an aroma sensory journey and scalp massage with every shampoo. Owner, William Distelcamp even treats his stylists with balloons and chocolate covered strawberries on their birthdays.

However, one of the salon's most prestigious features is it's Freestyle Systems weightless blow dryer units. When co-owner Lilly Distelcamp got carpal tunnel syndrome, the couple looked into ergonomic options they could add to their salon to help both Lilly and their stylists from straining their wrists, arms and shoulders. They chose Freestyle Systems -- a system where the blow dryer is suspended from above and supports the total weight of the dryer. When in use, the dryer feels like it's floating. Lilly says all of her problems vanished after they installed the system. 

Liquid Hair Salon’s stylists are Aveda certified and trained, and education is a primary and fundamental part of their culture. The salon opened its doors seven years ago with two full-time stylists and one part-time position. Now, they have eight full-time stylists with six stations which are accomplished by double booking the stations by creating shifts. “I have never had one stylist ever leave or quit my salon, ever.” says Distelcamp. “The stylists are paid 50% service commission with a 10% retail commission.”

Liquid Hair Salon has been featured in the Salon Today 200 three times, has won five Aveda Awards for excellence, and is one of the top ten income producing Aveda salons in New Jersey. Read more about their salon stats below.

Name of owners: William & Lilly Distelcamp

Date of opening: 9/1/2006

Description of style: Sleek, modern, minimalist, form follows function, clean lines, yet warm and relaxing with the use of renewable and or reclaimed materials. The style is somewhat industrial (such as the Craftsman made stations) with the warmth of reclaimed wooden features such as the mirror frames, counters, ledges and a very interesting handmade, custom, reclaimed, wooden wall which consists of over 2,200 individual pieces which were installed one piece at a time. "I built the wall myself with my wife, and yes it took a lot of time and work!" says Distelcamp. 

Square footage: 900 sq. ft.

Number of styling stations: six styling stations, two color stations, four color processing chairs

Salon/spa Equipment Lines used: Freestyle Systems blow dryer units. Craftsman Professional stations, Salon Interiors cabinetry. Elchim, Gamma Pui, Mega Power and Twin Turbo blow dryers

Furniture lines used: Takara Belmont and Salon Interiors

Retail lines carried: Aveda

Color lines used: Aveda

Design firm: "I designed the salon myself. I actually built it myself with my son and wife. We did everything from jack-hammering the cement floor, electric, plumbing, built the walls, ceiling, lighting, mirrors and frames. Literally everything. It took nine months to build," says Distelcamp. 

Architect: William Distelcamp

Photography: William Distelcamp