Walking into the Allure International Salon in New London is a lot like strolling into the living room of a close friend's house.The greeting is warm, music is playing and people are laughing. But here, at this upper State Street shop, the focus is on the 'dos getting shaped, lightened, trimmed and straightened.

The greeting is warm, music is playing and people are laughing. But here, at this upper State Street shop, the focus is on the 'dos getting shaped, lightened, trimmed and straightened.And the conversation is always flowing.

And the conversation is always flowing. On a recent visit, Shawn Craig, a stylist for 16 years, held court with three men who were discussing the weekend's NFL lineup. With one client sitting in his chair, Craig waved his clippers emphatically as he applauded the Philadelphia Eagles for pulling out a win, in spite of the kicker missing easy field goals.

On a recent visit, Shawn Craig, a stylist for 16 years, held court with three men who were discussing the weekend's NFL lineup. With one client sitting in his chair, Craig waved his clippers emphatically as he applauded the Philadelphia Eagles for pulling out a win, in spite of the kicker missing easy field goals.It's just like in the movies, where salons and barbershops are the places where current events are the hot topics of conversation, even if the opinions aren't politically correct.

It's just like in the movies, where salons and barbershops are the places where current events are the hot topics of conversation, even if the opinions aren't politically correct."The guy who did that must have known this area," one man surmises about a woman's burning body recently found by the side of the road. "You don't just drop someone off in Stonington."

"The guy who did that must have known this area," one man surmises about a woman's burning body recently found by the side of the road. "You don't just drop someone off in Stonington.""And what about that guy, the jumper? He didn't really want to do it," says another to the waiting clients. "If he did, then why did he wait for the police to show up?"

"And what about that guy, the jumper? He didn't really want to do it," says another to the waiting clients. "If he did, then why did he wait for the police to show up?" "We're all family here," says Craig, while shaking his head and laughing.

"We're all family here," says Craig, while shaking his head and laughing.While the guys voiced their opinions, Charmaine "Tammi" Floyd lingered in the background, putting new bags in the filled trash cans and readying her station for an afternoon client.

While the guys voiced their opinions, Charmaine "Tammi" Floyd lingered in the background, putting new bags in the filled trash cans and readying her station for an afternoon client.Interesting and unusual tirades are commonplace at Allure, says Floyd, who taught herself how to do cornrow braids at age 8.

Interesting and unusual tirades are commonplace at Allure, says Floyd, who taught herself how to do cornrow braids at age 8. "The guys like to call it a barbershop, but I think of it more as a salon," says Floyd, who got her license in 2006. "People are saying what they want, and I have no problem with that. You should be able to go to your stylist and relax.

"The guys like to call it a barbershop, but I think of it more as a salon," says Floyd, who got her license in 2006. "People are saying what they want, and I have no problem with that. You should be able to go to your stylist and relax. "That's what makes it fun. It's your leisure time."

"That's what makes it fun. It's your leisure time."Three years old

Three years oldSerinol Lowman opened Allure three years ago this month. Either as a side gig or professionally, the stylists combined have been doing hair for more than 50 years.

Serinol Lowman opened Allure three years ago this month. Either as a side gig or professionally, the stylists combined have been doing hair for more than 50 years."What I wanted was professionals," says Lowman, who also has a photography business and runs a children's writing program. "I don't have time to micromanage. I wanted people who were in the business who were able to handle and manage themselves."

"What I wanted was professionals," says Lowman, who also has a photography business and runs a children's writing program. "I don't have time to micromanage. I wanted people who were in the business who were able to handle and manage themselves."Lowman and his business partner, Courtney Gooden, originally planned to open a braid shop until they were approached by Willie Goosby and Shaquana Thorton.

Lowman and his business partner, Courtney Gooden, originally planned to open a braid shop until they were approached by Willie Goosby and Shaquana Thorton. Goosby, who still works at Allure, and Thorton both attended The Paul Mitchell School in Rhode Island and were looking for a place to not only do men's cuts but provide full service for female clients.

Goosby, who still works at Allure, and Thorton both attended The Paul Mitchell School in Rhode Island and were looking for a place to not only do men's cuts but provide full service for female clients."That changed our direction," says Lowman.

"That changed our direction," says Lowman.Along with Craig, Floyd and Goosby, Monica "MoMo" Booth and Adrian Vega round out the stylists that run Allure. There is also another part-time stylist.

Along with Craig, Floyd and Goosby, Monica "MoMo" Booth and Adrian Vega round out the stylists that run Allure. There is also another part-time stylist. Lowman says his approach to salon ownership is "hands-off."

Lowman says his approach to salon ownership is "hands-off." "The business is really theirs. I don't know too much about salons, but these people can help me go forward in a positive direction," he explains.

"The business is really theirs. I don't know too much about salons, but these people can help me go forward in a positive direction," he explains. According to the assessor's office, there's no way to determine how many of the nearly 1,300 businesses in the city are minority-owned and operated. However, only a half dozen cater to the hair care of black and Hispanic clients.

According to the assessor's office, there's no way to determine how many of the nearly 1,300 businesses in the city are minority-owned and operated. However, only a half dozen cater to the hair care of black and Hispanic clients.What you see is what you get

What you see is what you getAllure has the look of a more upscale salon, but with a hometown feel. Floor to ceiling windows give a clear view of clients coming into the shop and of the busy downtown street.

Allure has the look of a more upscale salon, but with a hometown feel. Floor to ceiling windows give a clear view of clients coming into the shop and of the busy downtown street.Appointments are logged into a computer program, which also pipes in a variety of satellite music through strategically placed speakers. The hardwood floors offset the shining black chairs at each stylist's station. The black and white photos that adorn the walls, both of locals and celebrities, were taken by Lowman.

Appointments are logged into a computer program, which also pipes in a variety of satellite music through strategically placed speakers. The hardwood floors offset the shining black chairs at each stylist's station. The black and white photos that adorn the walls, both of locals and celebrities, were taken by Lowman.The salon is where a stylist makes every client feel welcome and no subject is taboo.

The salon is where a stylist makes every client feel welcome and no subject is taboo. When Michael Jackson died last summer, there was a brief reflection to discuss all the great music the King of Pop put out during his career.

When Michael Jackson died last summer, there was a brief reflection to discuss all the great music the King of Pop put out during his career. But there were also critiques of the musical genius' court cases, unusual animal collection and ever-lightening skin.

But there were also critiques of the musical genius' court cases, unusual animal collection and ever-lightening skin.It's hard to call it work when you're among friends, says Craig, but the days can be long. His profession allows him the flexibility to drop his kids off at school and pick them up in the afternoon without having to punch a clock or fill in a time sheet.

It's hard to call it work when you're among friends, says Craig, but the days can be long. His profession allows him the flexibility to drop his kids off at school and pick them up in the afternoon without having to punch a clock or fill in a time sheet. Doing hair also provides another fringe benefit. Spending time with the ladies.

Doing hair also provides another fringe benefit. Spending time with the ladies."I went to hair school 'cause that's where all the girls were," Craig says with a smile. "But I like doing what I'm doing. I like making people look good."

"I went to hair school 'cause that's where all the girls were," Craig says with a smile. "But I like doing what I'm doing. I like making people look good."