Above Ground Salon to bring all-natural haircare to new Liberty St. space

After operating on the second floor of a State St. building for 11 years, Above Ground Hair Studio will soon be operating closer to the ground, as well as at the eye level of passersby on Liberty St. "We just wanted to go downstairs and be more in the spotlight and show Ann Arbor what we do with natural methods," says Above Ground Hair Studio owner Cookie Gomez. Gomez's unique approach to hair care focuses on all-natural products, styling techniques and cuts that work with each client's natural hair style. She even specializes in a cutting technique that she says helps stylists maintain a healthier body positioning and cutting motions. Gomez also teaches this technique to other stylists.  "We started all natural from the get-go, doing all kinds of things with ethnic hair and branching out from there," says Gomez. "Girls are now seeing that going natural is best." While her salon floor will be about the same size in her new location, the addition of a basement will give Above Ground more room to focus on hair. The six-stylist salon will soon grow to a nine-person team.  Now working to renovate the space, Gomez hopes to move into her Liberty St. location this fall. Her goals with the more visible storefront is to bring the salon's unique approach to hair care to more people in Ann Arbor.  Source: Cookie Gomez, Above Ground Hair Studio Writer: Natalie Burg