MIRRORS OF MEMORIES: Destin salon creates a beautician's scrapbook with old jewelry, trinkets

When looking in the mirrors at Allyson Salon.Spa, guests see more than just a reflection of themselves. They catch a glimpse of people’s lives that sat in the same barber chair. 

“Jewels, glass, beads… Some of this is people’s old wedding and prom jewelry,” said owner Allyson Gordon.

The three salon mirrors in her Destin business are each uniquely framed with bits of “bling, bling” and recycled glass. But it wasn’t on purpose that her salon became a beautician’s scrapbook.

More than a year ago, Gordon decided to relocate. Somewhere between the salon’s old location near Fresh Market and Allyson’s new home at 981 U.S. Highway 98 next to Winn-Dixie, the mirror frames disappeared.

“We had three weeks until opening day, and we didn’t have time to get new ones,” Gordon said. “So, we put our heads together and came up with a creative fix.”

A few broken vases and hot glue sticks later, the plain corners were set with a colorful combination of mosaic glass and broken and unused jewelry.

Instead of collecting dust in a drawer somewhere, now Gordon’s guests and employees can show off little pieces of their past. Over time, the frames have grown to include hundreds of little memories and even sparked Gordon to create lamps, mirrors and headboards.

Nowadays “there’s probably thousands of dollars in jewelry on my mirrors,” Gordon told The Log.

And while she loves the necklaces and earrings, one of Gordon’s favorite stories goes along with a few chunks of blue glass.

“This is the same stuff the bathroom floor at the White House was made of when Kennedy was in office,” Gordon told The Log. “One of our guests went to the plant that manufactured it in Virginia and brought it back to us… It’s just amazing.”

Surrounding her old styling station are a few of Gordon’s timeless trinkets, including an old Mickey Mouse watch and a Marilyn Monroe doll.

“I’m very feminine, so I gave it a girly touch,” Gordon said.

The middle station is outlined in girl’s best friend — diamonds. Sprinkled throughout the shards of broken wine bottles and vases are Tiffany & Co. boxes and sparkly necklaces. 

But it’s not all about the ladies. The third station is home to dozens of old cuff links brought in by one of their male clients.

“These are pieces of their lives, their stories,” Gordon said. “We’re like ‘Steel Magnolias’ in here. I do a lot of counseling and these are reminders of stepping stones in our lives.”

Allyson Salon.Spa is a full-focus Paul Mitchell Salon. In addition to hair services, they offer facials, a variety of massages and body treatments, waxing, manicures, pedicures and artificial nails. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

For more information, call 850-650-2667 or visit them online at allysonsalonspa.com.