AK Lady Barber opens shop in Palmer

PALMER— Sherri Lilly, A.K.A. the AK Lady Barber is open for business, ready to bring a traditional barbershop experience to Palmer.

“It’s been amazing. The community has been so supportive,” Lilly said.

The AK Lady Barber shop lays within the Colony Plaza in downtown Palmer. It’s the fruition of 10 years of dreaming, a dream that finally became a reality. Lilly opened her doors Aug. 6, moving across the parking lot from the Roots Hair Studio.

“I never mind going to work,” Lilly said.

Lilly said that she’s always preferred the old-fashioned barber shop experience over modern hair studios. She enjoys the beard lifestyle and understand its intricacies. She said it takes time and patience to grow a luxurious beard. Plus, there are so many types of beards so there’s plenty to keep her busy.

“It’s all about the client,” Lilly said.

Lilly’s favorite part of the job is interacting with the customers. Now that she owns her own business, she can provide a slowed down, more old school experience between the barber and customer. She said it’s about building a sense of community and customer service, getting to know the people and their stories.

Lilly said it’s been an exceptional first month acclimating her new barber shop into the community. She loves the “detail work” and casual conversation.

Her tagline for the shop is, ‘keeping Alaska handsome” because she wants the men who come through to feel like well groomed gentleman when they leave.

She offers a unique experience seldom seen at other shops locally. In addition to a hot towel treatment, each shave include a straight razor clean up. She said that most hair salons don’t offer facial hair trimming, let alone a straight razor so she’s bringing back something not often seen in the Mat-Su Valley.

“I know that there’s barber shops in Wasilla but… I think that they have the ability to offer it, but from what I’m hearing it’s not a standard,” Lilly said.

Lilly recently added a new barber, Emma McDonald to help her out.

Richell Carmichael brought her 9 year old son Jackson to get his haircut. No beard yet but he certainly seemed to enjoy talking to McDonald while she trimmed his blonde strands. Richell said that she thinks the shop is “beautiful” and wants to bring her husband for that unique/throwback straight razor treatment.

AK Lady Barber hours are Monday through Friday 9-6 and Saturday 9-4. For more information, visit akladybarber.com

Contact Mat-Su Valley reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com