Miracles do happen. And dreams do come true. On Aug. 1, just one day before Summer Shelton’s birthday, the very date she always envisioned, Amulet Parlor officially opens at 103 W. Jackson Ave. in the Old City. Far more than a typical beauty salon, Amulet is conceived as a sanctuary grounded in Appalachian care and Indigenous values of kinship and belonging. The grand opening aligns with Knoxville’s First Friday ArtWalk, inviting the community to explore a space where hair and beauty services meet wellness, ritual, and meaningful connection.
After 25 years in education, as a teacher, principal and administrator in both community and tribal schools, Shelton is returning to her stylist roots. She blends decades of leadership and cultural experience into this intentional beauty and wellness space.
During my coverage for Inside of Knoxville, it’s rare that someone’s vision and timetable align so seamlessly in reality. Summer has made it happen. She laid her vision out so precisely that walking in felt familiar already. Radiating openness and peace, the renovated salon also offers an eclectic retail mix—from jewelry and clothing to herbs, essential oils, books, and art—most sourced locally and clearly signed, reflecting Summer’s commitment to local partnerships.
The parlor is divided into two interconnected sides: one side offers service menu items including hair styling, nails, massage, skincare, sound therapy, and shadow therapy; the other serves as a community hub with workshops, book clubs, apothecary-style make‑and‑take stations, and retail offerings.
Sustainability is central to the salon’s ethos. Amulet partners with Organic Way, an Italian B Corp, sources supplies through local provider KnoxFill, participates in the Green Circle Salon waste-reduction initiative, and offers vegan, cruelty‑free nail products wherever possible.
Service at Amulet follows a time‑based pricing model: clients book a block of time—and within that, choose how to receive hair, skin, or relaxation treatments. The model emphasizes transparency and flexibility, encouraging clients to settle in and perhaps enhance their session with extras as they go.
A full team brings diverse modalities: two stylists for traditional hair services; nail, skin, and scalp treatments; osteo‑Thai yoga stretching led by one practitioner; others offer sound baths, tarot readings, reiki, and more.
The name “Amulet” speaks to the sense of protection and safety the salon aims to provide—a place where visitors can set down their armor and simply be nurtured.
Beginning Aug. 1, Amulet Parlor will be open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays are reserved for staff rest, though the community space can still be reserved for meetings, book clubs, showers, and more. The events calendar is live, and bookings are already open. If you are interested in working with their team, check out the open positions. They are filling fast!…