March 9, 2006 Issue                                               

©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Dove flies to Chestnut Hill with new Ground Zero salon
by PAULA M. RILEY

Robin Dove, who left Toppers Spa in Center City to open up Ground Zero Chestnut Hill, welcomes you to her new salon in the TLA Plaza on the Avenue. Don’t be fooled by the name. She and her stylist teams offer expert hair, color and nail services for clients with all types of hair and all kinds of styles. (Photo by Paula Riley)

”Walking into a quality hair salon can be quite intimidating for some. I want people to feel comfortable from the moment they come in,” explains Robin Dove, owner of Ground Zero Chestnut Hill salon, 7630 Germantown Ave.

As you enter her salon, the large waiting area greets guests with an inviting black leather couch; so plush you’ll sink in and never want to leave. There’s a wide selection of interesting magazines and a coffee table for the hot drink Dove will deliver with a smile.

Dove, who left Toppers Spa to open Ground Zero last summer, explains the design of her salon, “What’s missing from salons these days is the cozy atmosphere. I tried to give my salon the flavor of the way salons used to be – very comfortable, where stylists have lots of time to talk to clients, and customers can chat with each other. Other salons try to be so grand that they lose the atmosphere. I don’t want mine like that.”

The entire salon is very open; from any location you can see the collection of diverse and talented artists serving clients with all types of hair. “What kind of salon are we?” Dove repeats my question. “We are a multi-cultural salon. We can do all styles and types of hair. We don’t just serve one group of clients.”

She explains how some salons have African-American clients only assigned to African- American stylists or Caucasian clients only assigned to Caucasian stylists. “What people don’t understand is that hair is just like fabric” Dove explains. “Artists, true artists, learn about hair and learn how to work with all types of hair and all kinds of styles.”

At Toppers, Dove developed a broad client base which included lead dancers from Madonna’s Drown Tour. She soon became an expert in the Redken hair products and began teaching classes for Redken. “Teaching those classes in New York City was a great experience for me. They gave me the confidence I needed to open up my own salon.”

When you meet Dove, you’d never know she ever lacked confidence. This stylist mother of three was raised in Germantown and graduated from high school a quiet girl. “When my friends from my childhood see me now, they can’t believe it. I was such a nerd then.” All that changed when she first began styling hair. “Once I started, my creative side just opened up. Now when I get with a client, it is beautiful.” Dove, who speaks passionately of her belief in God, explains, “Women are my ministry. I like to take away their burdens and want to make lives as easy as possible.”

The salon’s bridal services are a great demonstration of easing this burden. “We do all we can to make brides relaxed and comfortable.” Dove explains how her team offers a variety of services, “They can come here or we will go to their homes, bringing everything the bride and her attendants may need. We always provide breakfast and have an assistant who is there to handle anything the bridal party may require. We do as many hair and make-up ‘test runs’ as needed and on their wedding day, we’ll begin as early as 6 a.m.”

Dove’s hip styling team, whom she refers to as “Charlie’s Angels”, have experience with all types of hair, color and extensions. The salon also provides nail services, scalp treatments, waxing, makeup, men’s and children’s services.

As our conversation closes, I ask Dove about the salon’s name, which many people will naturally associate with the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. She laughs and answers, “When I first came here, I got so many comments and attacks on the name of the salon. What people don’t know is that Ground Zero salons have been around since 1985.” This location is one of the five franchises in the Philadelphia area, Dove explains. “Ground Zero is about bringing the city flair to the smaller suburban-like areas.” Dove says, “I considered many areas, but my salon had to be here. I love the atmosphere of Chestnut Hill.”

Ground Zero Chestnut Hill is located on 7630 Germantown Ave., next to TLA Video. They are open Mondays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays thru Fridays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 215-248-3700 or visit groundzerochestnuthill.com.