Kristin Green, owner of Tangles Salon, has been a stylist for 27 years. After working at four different salons, she decided to strike out on her own and formed Tangles in November 2002. Since then, she has developed a passion for moving the industry forward through education and a commitment to use the most natural hair care products available.

Green has always kept the focus of Tangles—a name she chose for its playful, whimsical tone—exclusively on hair services. “We want to do one thing and do it well,” she says. After outgrowing Tangles’ original space, Green bought a house that was built during the early 1900s. She and her husband renovated the space for Tangles’ new location, which opened in August 2008. Green and her staff of 20 employees strive to help clients feel comfortable and confident about their hair.

Green is certified through the American Board of Certified Hair Colorists, a process through which she gained much knowledge about chemicals in hair coloring. That, combined with years of exposure to chemicals in salon products, stirred a curiosity in Green to find more natural alternatives to some of the chemical-laden products found in many salon hair care lines. She became a certified clinical aromatherapist and has created her own product line, Pro Lixx—a treatment that contains a blend of six essential oils to protect the hair and scalp during the coloring process.

In addition to Pro Lixx, Tangles provides other lines of hair products free from harsh chemicals. Soma brand shampoos, conditioners and gels are formulated to be biodegradable, vegan and organic. Just Natural is a line of plant-based medicinal care items focused on remedies for psoriasis and hair loss. Green notes that some people have allergies to paraphenylenediamine (PPD), a chemical used in hair color, so Tangles offers PPD-free coloring. According to Green, Tangles is one of the only salons that clarifies hair before coloring, which removes any type of chemical build-up.

One service Tangles does not offer—despite its current popularity—are keratin treatments, which Green says contain formaldehyde and are toxic to clients, the employees and the environment.

Green advocates to move the salon industry in a holistic direction, but she observes resistance to change among some industry professionals. Not thwarted by the naysayers, she continues to devote hours to researching natural and herbal approaches to hair care. “I want to make a change in the industry, one product at a time,” she says. She teaches safe use of chemical hair products and alternatives at other salons, and she has also created her own training program for Tangles employees.

Tangles also provides hair cutting services and styling packages for bridal parties, and works closely with the American Cancer Society, offering hair services for women going through cancer treatment.

Tangles Salon is located at 2122 Marietta Ave., in Lancaster. For more information, call 717-299-0266 or visit TanglesLancaster.com.

Sheila Julson is a Milwaukee-based freelance writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines throughout the country.