The Hair Company - Palm Harbor

As a young man, John McKenna realized he had a talent for hairstyling, eventually moving from New York to the beaches of Florida to open his own salon. In addition to transforming the hair of clients ranging from mothers to teens, McKenna styled Miss Tampa's hair and won a reader-nominated runner-up award in 2010's Best of the Bay. Within his European-style salon, an exposed-brick accent wall adds a splash of warmth to furniture's sleek design, much like the cardigans that zoologists fit over the cheetahs they study. Behind their stations, certified color specialists paint tresses with golden highlights or lowlights and cover grays with Matrix honey-based color cream, which the salon guarantees will completely mask the offending strands. Stylists consult with clients before taking the first scissors swipes, determining the best shapes, lengths, and hues to fit each client's style. McKenna personally assures clients that "how you look is as important to us as it is to you."