Beautifying Youngstown

By Madison Fessler

AG Beauty Salon and Spa on Lincoln Avenue is celebrating its one year anniversary. The salon opened April 25, 2022.

Owner of AG Beauty Salon and Spa, Alexandra Galantis, said her and the employees are brainstorming ideas about how to celebrate the one year anniversary. Anniversary announcements will be made on the salon’s Instagram account.

AG Beauty Salon and Spa stylists and technicians.
Photo courtesy of Alexandra Galantis

Galantis, a 2022 Youngstown State University alumna, obtained her bachelor’s degree in general studies with a focus in early childhood education and special education. Galantis plans on going back to school to get a degree in early childhood education and her teaching license.

Galantis started her cosmetology career at 17 as a certified nail technician. Galantis became a nail technician because of her love for the salon industry, along with wanting to work a job she loved through college.

“I’ve been a nail tech since I was 17. I graduated from Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture with an advanced manicuring certification in 2019,” Galantis said.

Galantis said she opened the salon because she noticed a lack of beauty services near YSU. She never had the intention of opening her own salon, but when Galantis saw the vacant space next to University Nutrition, she decided to open AG Beauty Salon and Spa.

The salon offers esthetic services such as waxing, massages and makeup along with beauty services including nails, pedicures and hair services.

“I was driving by and saw the building and I just wanted to check it out,” Galantis said. “I decided to open a salon in Youngstown because there’s not really much on campus.”

Kristen Kopnicky, a hairstylist at AG Beauty Salon and Spa, said she enjoys the environment created at the salon.

“I love that Alex really wanted to make it a very team-oriented environment,” Kopnicky said. “I’m really looking forward to growing with this [salon]. We have a lot of really cool ideas and I can’t wait to see them come to life.”

The salon provides services for everyone in the Youngstown area. However, its main focus is YSU students who prefer somewhere close to campus.

Photo by Madison Fessler / Jambar Contributor

Another hairstylist at the salon, Lindsey Melton, said she enjoys working with YSU students and getting to know them.

“I love the opportunities that I’ve gotten to talk to people from YSU about everything we offer here, and I’m excited for more students to come visit us,” Melton said.

AG Beauty Salon and Spa also partners with YSU clubs and sponsors events hosted by clubs and organizations. 

“In the past, we’ve partnered with Penguin Positivity Club and Her Campus and we donate to different fundraisers and different clubs,” Galantis said. “We definitely love partnering with different organizations.”

Galantis said now that the salon is open, she is going back to school to study advanced esthetics to further her passion of skin care, makeup and offer new services in the future.

“We plan to expand our services throughout the year. We post all of our new services on our Instagram,” Galantis said.

AG Beauty Salon and Spa takes walk-ins and appointments. For more information on the salon, including services, hours and partnership opportunities, visit AG Beauty Salon and Spa on Instagram @agbeautysalonandspa or call (234) 228-9587.