Though he didn't think so at the time, being fired as the head visual merchandiser at Urban Outfitters in Manhattan was the best thing that could have happened to Christopher Noland. In fact, he immediately took the advice of the woman who gave him the pink slip (and had pointed out that Chris spent most of his time in the back cutting the shopgirls' hair) and enrolled at a nearby beauty academy.

Actually Chris started styling hair when he was 13 (and couldn't find anyone to cut his hair the way he wanted) before moving on to his friends' hair in high school and eventually the retail clerks at Urban Outfitters. Given his comfort level with scissors, it was only natural that even before he graduated from the beauty academy in 1992, Chris was training under the expert eye of internationally known Madison Avenue salon stylists. That's where he gained priceless experience cutting and coloring the hair of high-profile clients and runway models that continued in New York City until 1998. Since then Chris has developed a loyal following in Connecticut—coiffing the social movers and shakers of Fairfield County (though his clients value the fact that he doesn't drop names) as well as the fashion-conscious staff at local retail stores and busy moms who rely on his easily manageable and chic hair styles.

In 2010 Chris spread his wings and moved to the sunny and serene boutique salon that now bears his name and overlooks fashionable Greenwich Avenue. Here he and his staff work their magic, offering a full range of rejuvenating experiences—everything from expert coloring, cutting, and styling…to glowing facials, rejuvenating massage and makeup…to health-conscious manicures, pedicures, and waxing.

Pampering is the salon's specialty.