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The Cut & Color Room doesn't split hairs: The snootiness and arrogance so prevalent across rival salons have no place here. "Our specialty is a no-attitude environment," says Jeff Morris, co-owner of the Orlando, Fla.-based business. "Other salons can make customers feel self-conscious. But everyone on our staff is so nice. You can feel the difference."

Maybe too nice. The Cut & Color Room maintains an impressive inventory of beauty products from upscale brands like Bumble and bumble, Alterna and Goldwell, and its stylists regularly recommend items tailored to their clients' needs. But too often Morris stood by as patrons took those expert suggestions to nearby retailers, purchasing the exact same products from national chains like Sephora or Ulta in order to earn customer rewards points.

"Losing that business lit the match underneath us," Morris says. "We knew we needed to work on something to keep those sales in-house."