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Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from the tri-states. In addition to this update from Dubuque, we will share other developments in Tuesday’s edition.
When talking with Dubuque stylist Christopher Bellings, it’s hard to say whether he has his job down to an art, a science or something in between.
Bellings recently opened The Color Parlor at 3338 Center Grove Drive. The Dubuque hair studio specializes in vivid color services. He stocks dozens of dyes ranging from more customary blondes and browns to eye-catching oranges and verdant greens.
“You have the whole rainbow of light to play with,” Bellings said. “Then there’s light and shadows that will enhance or take away from a given color. It’s a lot like chemistry with how you’re adding things in or taking them away.”
Bellings has worked in the Dubuque cosmetology scene for over a decade. Previously, he rented chair space at other local salons and studios, but the move to Center Grove marks his first foray into a solo space.
Vivid color — sometimes called fantasy color — is his forte, but Bellings also offers a wide range of other hair-related services.
He mixes each color by hand, he said, so every client walks away with a unique look.
“I never just use a color straight out of the box,” Bellings said. “I always mix at least one or two colors together to give people a completely customized look. When they leave here, they walk away with a color no one else has.”
With the new studio, Bellings said he hopes to create a welcoming, “no judgment” atmosphere where clients feel comfortable to ask any questions they might have about their hair or the styling and color process.
Bellings said he tries to curate a similar vibe on his social media accounts. Already, he has netted nearly 30,000 followers on TikTok and thousands more across Facebook and Instagram with videos about the cosmetology field and his life more broadly.
The Color Parlor offers a new background for that content, he said, as well as some additional inspiration.
“It’s been pretty busy within the last year, so I haven’t been using my social platforms as much,” Bellings said. “But I really feel like my passion is reignited here, and I think it’s going to be awesome to continue to grow that presence and connect with more people.”
The Color Parlor is open by appointment from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Online booking is available at thecolorparlordbq.com, and additional information can be found on The Color Parlor’s Facebook and Instagram pages.