August 17, 2007 (RALEIGH, NC) – For the second year, Samuel Cole Salon in North Raleigh has been voted one of the Triangle area’s “Best Hair Salons” and “Best Color & Highlights” destination in the Best of Citysearch audience poll. Every year the popular online guide to U.S. cities asks its users and editorial staff to vote for the best restaurants, bars, salons, spas, shops and services, then publishes the results. Samuel Cole Salon is owned by hair stylists Jack and Joelle Ray. After seven years in operation, they made many changes to the salon, from altering their hiring and training procedures to bookkeeping and inventory coordination. “We altered anything that wasn’t working perfectly,” Joelle said.

Soon afterwards, their client based doubled, then continued to grow by 50 percent over the next two years. When the space next door to them at 240 Newton Road became available, the Rays leased it immediately and began a major enlargement and renovation of the salon. In July, that effort was well-rewarded when Salon Today magazine named Samuel Cole Salon ‘”First Runner Up” in its annual décor competition, second only to the grand-prize winner, Frederic Fekkai’s newest salon in New York City. A member of the Bumble & bumble network of high-end salons in America, Samuel Cole Salon “is setting the standard for salons in Raleigh,” according to American Salon magazine, which featured it in the July edition.

"It's a very inspiring, very uplifting salon," Joelle Ray told the magazine. "It feels good to be here."

For more information, visit www.samuelcole.com.

A list of the most popular categories in Citysearch's nationwide "Best of Citysearch" services list can be found at http://national.citysearch.com/feature/41890 or under their respective category and city.