Corporate life was a disappointment to Justin Killingsworth. After earning a business management degree from the University of Utah and acquiring a job with a large corporation, he soon had second thoughts. “I hated the corporate world,” he says. “I quit and went to hair school. Here I am, 10 years later, loving every second of it.”

Justin is the owner of The Color Bar, which has three stand-alone salons in Huntsville and Conroe. “My goal is five salons in five years,” he says. His business model, however, does not allow for greedy expansion. Instead, it is based on community service, amicable guest relations, quality services, and extreme pampering. “It’s about the experience,” Justin says.

Where your experience matters

After graduating from the Aveda Institute in Shenandoah, Justin began working at an Aveda salon in Houston’s exclusive River Oaks area. He got along well with his wealthy clientele, who learned to respect his skill with scissors and hair color, as well as his sharp mind and business acumen. He earned a loyal following and a staggering 98 percent client retention rate. “River Oaks taught me a lot of life skills,” he says. “I learned how to deal with a lot of different personalities.”

In late 2019, Justin left River Oaks and founded The Color Bar in Huntsville. About two years later, he opened a salon in Huntsville’s Creekside Retirement Community. He enjoyed his lively conversations with his senior adult clients, who seemed to like to connect with people of younger generations. Justin is so fond of working with senior adults, he is considering opening another salon in a retirement community in Conroe.

In the summer of 2023, Justin opened The Color Bar in Conroe, selecting a convenient location in a shopping center on I-45 at North Loop 336 (near Kroger, Hobby Lobby and other major retailers). Guests of The Color Bar soon learn it’s no ordinary salon. Upbeat music provides a cheery ambience, and guests are welcomed with a smile. They are even offered a margarita (or a Dreamsicle if they are underage). “It’s about the experience,” Justin says. “Every guest that receives a shampoo gets complimentary aromatherapy, steam towels, and hand relief treatments. It’s about coming into a place where you feel welcome, you feel at home, and you can be yourself,” he says. “Being yourself is the most important thing. We want our guests to become our family. Our goal is to make every guest feel pampered.”  In fact, The Color Bar’s slogan is “where your experience matters.”

Both men and women of all ages, as well as children, can be themselves at The Color Bar. “We have everything from two-year-old children to 95-year-old grandpas,” Justin says. Furthermore, The Color Bar in Conroe offers all levels of stylists, from Justin, who is a master stylist, to junior stylists. “There is a price point that can fit every budget,” he says.

Color and more

Justin selected the name “The Color Bar” for his business because he thought it had a nice ring to it. The name seems apt, because Justin estimates that a whopping 90 percent of The Color Bar’s clientele receive some type of hair color service—even more than the industry average of 76 percent. However, many guests utilize other services as well. Justin even provides men’s hair replacement. He is one of only a few stylists in this area who specializes in this procedure, which he promises is more economical than permanent hair replacement.

Finding the right color and cut is an art form at The Color Bar. “If you create great color, your cut is going to follow it,” Justin says, noting that stylists look at guests’ face structure and hair type before suggesting cuts. “The fun part is looking at someone and saying, ‘this would look the best for you,’ making them the best them and bringing out their inner beauty.”

When Justin opened the Conroe location of The Color Bar, he brought Gayla Lewis, one of his most tenured stylists, with him. Working at The Color Bar has all been “a plus” for Gayla, who has been a hairstylist for 16 years. She is a “people person,” she says—although she does more listening than talking—and enjoys being in the presence of others. She is known for her expert haircuts, but also likes being able to perform many other services, such as hair color and extensions. “At some point, a stylist’s dreams come true when they get to do everything under a stylist’s umbrella,” she says.

Hairstylist Amanda Hobart has been working at The Color Bar in Conroe since it first opened. She likes “making people feel beautiful,” she says, and enjoys the camaraderie with other stylists. “The best thing about working here is the energy, the vibe,” she says. “The connection between the guest and the stylist has always been very satisfying. I like to call us ‘hair-apists.’”

Stylists agree that the best part of the job is observing the look on their guests’ faces when they see their new hairstyles. They also share Justin’s vision of caring for guests and making a contribution to the community. Under his tutelage, two employees will soon become stylists. Abby Albright, who currently handles social media, advertising and networking, will begin cosmetology school in January. “I’m so excited,” she says. Zac Yohn, who now serves as Justin’s assistant, will also start cosmetology school in January. Not long ago, Zac accompanied his mother when she went to a hair appointment, and he chatted with the hairstylist. “She asked me if I wanted to give it a try, and I said sure.” It was the start of a new career.

The Color Bar uses acclaimed Oribe haircare products, including shampoo, conditioner and styling aids. “It’s a luxury line that is carefully crafted to be the best product line you can use,” Justin says. Each line has its own scent, he says, such as the popular Côte d’Azure, which is a blend of several fragrances, including bergamot, sandalwood, and white jasmine.

Stylists use Kevin Murphy hair color products for their many guests who color their hair. “The base is honey, which is very nourishing, repairing and softening, with 100 percent gray coverage,” Justin says. He encourages guests to purchase products for home use so they can maintain their hairstyles, noting that “home care is just as important as care in the salon.”

Although Justin’s salons have been successful, the business end of the undertaking is not his favorite part. What gives him joy is helping people find their inner beauty through great hairstyles. “That’s the fun part,” he says.

The Color Bar accepts appointments, as well as walk-ins. For more information, visit colorbartx.com.

Conroe Hair Salon
2200 IH-45 N, Suite B1, Conroe, TX 77301

Huntsville Hair Salon
2405 Avenue I, Suite A, Huntsville, TX 77340

Email: INFO@colorbartx.com

Phone (936) 439-4972