Creations Hair Salon opened across from Burritoville on Sept.5.

Owner Carla Russell is the salon’s only employee. A resident of Rochelle, Russell has six years experience and attended the Educators of Beauty beauty school in Sterling.

“I’ve worked at other salons and worked out of my home,” she said. “I’ve wanted to do this forever. It’s one of the goals I wanted to accomplish.”

Russell decided to locate her salon in DeKalb because it has a larger population than Rochelle.

“It’s a bigger town than where I live,” she said. “I chose the campus because of students.”

Russell says that the salon is quiet in the morning but picks up steady business in the afternoon. Students already have taken advantage of the salon’s location.

“I live right across the street,” senior marketing major Dave Palagi said. “It’s convenient, and they do a good job.”

The salon, 1027 W. Hillcrest Drive, specializes in haircuts, perms, highlights and more.

Creations offers many different product lines, such as Back-to-Basics, Montage, Biolage and Paul Mitchell, and sells everything from shampoo to texturizing pomades or hair wax. Deep conditioning and pure protein treatments to strengthen the hair also are available.

Haircuts are $10, and those wanting color or perm with a haircut only have to pay the price of their perm or coloring.

Although Creations is relatively new, the salon will open a new addition on Dec. 1.

“I’m opening up a therapy room,” she said. “We’ll offer manicures, pedicures, facials and head, neck and shoulder massages.”

The therapy room also will offer leg, underarm and bikini area waxing. Lip and brow waxings are currently available.

While appointments are not needed for the hair salon, they will be for the therapy room, she said.

Russell added that she may consider hiring employees after the therapy room opens.

“As long as they take pride in their work and do a good job,” Russell said regarding potential applicants. “And they don’t hurry and take their time.”

Even though Creations has been here only for a little while, it’s already receiving rave reviews. Chris Bushman, a DeKalb resident who serves part-time in the military, appreciates Russell’s friendly personality.

“She’s personable and honest, and she does a good job,” Bushman said.

The new salon will also try its hand at charity work on Nov. 18, when Russell will participate in the “Cut-A-Thon,” where representatives from local salons will provide haircuts at the Best Western at 1212 Lincoln Highway from noon to 5 p.m.

Proceeds will be sent to relief funds for the Sept 11 attacks.