Media Credit: Jarod Opperman Sisters Arabie Nimms and Tia Shears opened their own salon, Scissor Sisters, this week, hoping that their decorating would help them stand apart from the chain shops. The shop currently features antique mirrors, pink-and-white walls, and will soon be filled with artwork from local artists. The sisters also are toying with the idea of a pin-up girl to attract a more masculine crowd.

Two stylish sisters have teamed up to bring Eugene fashionistas a truly eco-conscious experience.

Arabie Nimms and Tia Shears made their dream a reality this week when they opened up their intimate salon, Scissor Sisters, on W. 10th and Washington Street.

Scissor Sisters is a full-service salon that features organic shampoos, henna hair color, gentle wax, silk wraps and plenty of charm.

The sisters have 15 years of experience between them and are both fully licensed. Nimms and Shears have worked together and separately at several chain shops but having been planning to open their own salon for five years.

Aside from possessing the talent to run a successful salon, the sisters both have warm personalities. Shears is enthusiastic and affable, while Nimms is sweet and bubbly.

The salon itself feels like an extension of the sisters' personalities with its pink-striped walls, unique vintage mirrors, butterfly ceiling stickers and welcoming leather chairs.

The sisters wanted their salon to have a different feel than the sterile chain shops most people are used to.

"We wanted it to have personality. If we're going to be here for eight hours every day, we better be having some fun," she said.

Nimms said they wanted the Scissor Sisters to feel funky, bright and different.

The shop's empty wall space will soon be filled with work by local artists. Shears said the art will rotate every month because they want to keep it fresh.

The look and feel of the salon may be enchanting, but the essence of Scissor Sisters is its environmentally conscious drive.

The sisters are reducing the salon's impact on the earth by composting hair, recycling waste and using organic products.

Shears said, "In ten years, I have never worked for a salon that recycles."

She said when the sisters worked together at another salon, they tried to implement a recycling program but received too much resistance.

Scissor Sisters offers a complete line of organic products and will institute "clean air" days at the salon.

They will offer other products, but no unnatural chemicals will be used on Wednesdays or Saturdays.

"You should be able to walk into a salon and feel like you're not contributing to all the problems that are out there," Shears said.

The salon is also exclusively offering Oregon Organic cosmetics.

Shears said if people bring in their products, she will help them understand the ingredients and suggest organic alternatives.

"If you come into my shop and buy something, you don't have to flip the label over. I've done the footwork, I've done the research and I guarantee every single thing," she said.

Nimms said a lot of products try to trick people by using words like "natural" or "herbal" in their names, but people should read the labels.

Shears said in most shampoos, the first or second ingredient after water is sodium lauryl sulfate. Sodium lauryl sulfate is a chemical used to produce lather.

"The other difference is our products don't sud as much. People are so used to it, they think they're not getting clean hair without it," Shears said.

The sisters want to make sure clients know that the Scissor Sisters experience is truly unique.

Having both worked at chains, they know how pushy other shops can be.

Nimms said that they are fed up with rushing clients.

"We want to give a unique artful haircut and take our time with clients. It should be an artsy job," she said.

"We want them to feel positive energy."

Whether you're looking for a great hair cut, a dred treatment, a ten minute massage, an acrylic-alternative for your nails or eco-friendly beauty advice, Scissor Sisters has you covered.

The salon's mantra was best summarized when Shears said, "Beauty shouldn't hurt anybody, especially the earth."

treagan@dailyemerald.com

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