If there’s one day a woman wants to look her very best, it’s her wedding day, an occasion when all eyes will be trained on her. It’s also a day that will be captured for posterity in photographs.
That’s why brides-to-be seek out top hair and makeup artists well in advance of the big day. These are not things to be left to chance.
One provider many area women trust is PRIM Salon, located at 2105 Sawgrass Village Drive in Ponte Vedra Beach. Owner Brittany Karol has worked on about 1,000 weddings and received recognition and won awards for her efforts. Some of her clients have been chosen to appear in bridal magazines — in part due to the hair styling and makeup Karol and her team have provided for them.
And now, PRIM Salon has expanded, adding to the possibilities.
The road to success
As far back as her teen years, Karol was the go-to person when friends wanted someone to do their hair or makeup. Even then, people recognized her natural skill. But when it came time to select a career, it hadn’t occurred to her to pursue hair styling.
She majored in exercise science at the University of North Florida with a goal of earning her master’s degree in physical therapy. But in her senior year the requirements changed, with physical therapists mandated to possess a doctoral-level degree. The idea of extending her post-graduate education held little appeal for Karol.
“It was a pivotal moment for me, because this was all I thought I was going to do,” she said.
At the same time, she really enjoyed helping people feel good about themselves. So, realizing the place for her was hair design school, she switched careers and completed her apprenticeship at Volume One Salon in Pensacola.
She quickly realized how much she enjoyed creating a beautiful work of art using hair as the medium. Her specialty is custom-colored hair extensions, which are in high demand among brides-to-be, and the results showcase her talent.
“It’s amazing to see the reaction you get when they see themselves,” Karol said. “They’re like, ‘How did you do that?’”
She began doing hair professionally about 10 years ago and began to do weddings while living on the Gulf coast. She’s also been teaching other stylists the trade for about seven years. A Ponte Vedra native, she eventually moved back to The First Coast and continued working on weddings here.
Her father, Dr. Robert Karol, was a greatly respected dentist who had been practicing for decades from his office on Sawgrass Village Drive. He suggested she open a salon in a unit adjacent to his practice. So, PRIM Salon officially opened in July 2019.
Within months, the pandemic arrived, forcing people to stay home and salons to temporarily close. But Karol found a way to keep her business going.
“I actually did really well,” she said. “I created these at-home color kits, so clients could come pick them up.”
At a time when people were unable to get their hair done, this service was quickly embraced. In fact, people would purchase Karol’s kits to send to friends and relatives who lived elsewhere, because no one could get these services during that time.
When PRIM Salon reopened to the public, business continued as though it had never been interrupted.
Then, as her father was preparing to retire, he talked to his daughter about expanding her salon into his unit, which is much larger than the one she was in. They began to renovate the space together, transforming it into an elegant, roomy space with lots of stations for the many services PRIM offers.
Sadly, Dr. Karol passed away in October, but not before setting his daughter on the road to greater success.
“I know he would be proud of it,” Brittany Karol said.
Wedding services
On a day-to-day basis, PRIM Salon offers its usual array of services. Clients can book an appointment online or by calling the salon.
For weddings, the process is a bit different. Brides-to-be fill out a form online. They sign a contract and make a deposit, which locks in the date.
Frequently, PRIM is asked to serve the bride’s entire entourage, which is typically about eight people. Several members of Karol’s team are brought in to work with the group.
First, there is a trial run. That gives everyone a preview of the big day and time to make changes.
Karol emphasized the importance of booking services early, typically once a venue and wedding date are selected. That’s also critical if the bride wants a specific stylist, because they can be booked up fast.
PRIM’s new, larger space is a good location to have the actual work done before the wedding, and it solves a potential problem. Some venues don’t allow wedding parties access before a certain time, and that can complicate the bride’s timeline.
PRIM Salon can be found at primsalons.com and on Instagram at instagram.com/primsalon.jax. It can be reached by email at primsalons@gmail.com. Or by calling 904-962-4247.
