Imagine a place where your curly hair wasn't treated as an inconvenience, but celebrated for its unique beauty. If you've ever visited a Ouidad salon, you know there's nothing else quite like the experience.Nowhere is this truer than at Ouidad's Fort Lauderdale flagship, which has just been named to the Salon Today 200 and featured on the magazine's January cover. The magazine's annual feature honors the best salons in the country across a range of categories. This year, our Florida location was recognized for outstanding Customer Service-which should come as no surprise to any curly haired client who's walked through its doors...and been greeted with a glass of sparkling rosé.We spoke with Ouidad Master Artistic Educator Chadwick Pendley, who co-owns the salon with Lead Colorist Igor Araujo, about what makes Ouidad Fort Lauderdale a haven for all types of curls.How do you go out of your way to make clients a priority at the salon?Both Igor and myself set out to create an environment where people with naturally curly hair could come to have their needs met in a salon they could trust, with a team that helped them to replace their fears and anxieties with excitement and anticipation for future visits.Clients' needs are always put first. Lesson one for new team members is: Those curls are attached to an individual, and it's that individual's choice to be here. We are grateful they choose us, and we aim to show them in everything we do.We frequently ask our clients if we are getting it right. It's amazing how fast you can grow as a stylist and how strong you can become as a team when you simply take the time to ask. Never assume and always be open to other possibilities. We really do care! We want our clients to be not only satisfied, we want them to be in love with their experience at the salon, as well as with their curls.What sets the salon apart from others in the area?When you arrive at the salon, you know right away you're someplace special and something awesome is about to happen. We have put together an entire experience for our clients. If you're a first-time client, you're greeted with a welcome package. This package is designed to help you acclimate to your new salon over your first three visits. This has helped us to build client loyalty tremendously.I noticed years ago that clients would love their hair when they were at the salon, and when they left they didn't have any idea how to recreate the look at home. We created the Learning Lounge, where clients can participate in complimentary, do-it-yourself classes designed to help them successfully recreate their salon-styled curls. It has become the heartbeat of our salon.What do your clients love most about visiting the salon?Throughout the salon, we have put together one tremendous design that speaks to naturally curly hair. Light fixtures resemble tight coils of curls. Exotic plants that look like long, cascading curls adorn the front of the building. An entire mural devoted to girls with curls encompasses the back entrance to the salon.We aim to stylishly pamper our clients while they are here. A tray of champagne and rosé, fresh beautiful floral bouquets, luxurious gowns, and a menu of coffee drinks are some of the details that help us create a luxurious environment.The experience allows clients to relax and enjoy their time with us. They are never rushed through their service, and it's obvious we place the integrity of their hair first and foremost. Clients feel like they have found their home here with us. They are excited to be in a salon where everyone has curls. The fact that we place a huge emphasis on educating them on their hair and its needs sends clients away with rebooked appointments and smiles.What's your advice to other salon owners?Take the time to put yourself into situations with other people who are doing big things. Become connected to them, and set out to do big things yourself. Surround yourself with successful people. You become the company you keep.Ouidad Fort Lauderdale is located at 3530 N. Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308. Call (954) 613-0405 to schedule your visit.