The NOLA Salon Defying Gravity and Limits

There’s nowhere like New Orleans, a city known for its rich culture, diverse people, and unique experiences. So, when David Connor decided to open a NOLA-based salon, he knew he wanted the business to reflect the city he’s always called home.

Connor started Anti-Gravity in 2019 in the heart of New Orleans. It was a dream that was decades in the making. Connor started giving his classmates haircuts when he was only eleven. He admits that those early cuts were bad enough to warrant concerned calls to his parents, but they were an important step toward his future as a stylist and hair educator.

By high school, he had a book of clients. After graduating, he skipped college and went to beauty school. In 2006, he began interning with a hair color company, where he refined his skills and got to rub shoulders with hundreds of industry professionals.

“I worked for free for three years, shampooing hair. Back then, you had to be in the room with excellent hairstylists. It was natural for me to fly myself out, shampoo hair backstage, and just sit in at educational events, conventions, and seminars,” Connor recalled.

Eventually, Connor established himself as a name-to-know in the beauty industry, traveling to educational events around the world. The people he met, the conversations he had, and the salons he visited became the foundation he used to build Anti-Gravity.

“I did a lot of research and development, looking at thousands of salons in-person and meeting with people’s challenges,” Connor said.

That background work paid off because Anti-Gravity has maintained a loyal client base and a roster of stylists who are happy to stay on staff. This success is especially impressive considering that Connor and his team had to navigate COVID-19 just five months after opening. But that challenge has been valuable, too.

“It’s made me very resilient. Once you experience the feeling that you’re about to lose it all and you have that many sleepless nights, the other stuff’s just light work,” Connor said.

Connor also attributes the success of Anti-Gravity to the uniquely New Orleans vibe that’s woven into the brand, from the space’s architecture to the welcoming service his team provides. He’s also been very intentional about catering to the many hair textures of New Orleans’ diverse residents.

“There is no Asian hair, Black hair . . . it’s just hair. There are just different textures that we can manipulate or dress in any way. In New Orleans, we really work with and embrace natural textures,” Connor said.

For Connor, making people feel good about themselves through their hair is the goal. As an educator, he helps other stylists embrace the larger impact they can have on their clients, too.

Connor has similar advice for people who can’t make it to Anti-Gravity but want to find the right stylist or barber. He encourages people to take time to find stylists who do thorough consults and foster personal connections. A good stylist, he noted, will be able to work with your texture to get a flattering silhouette and a style you can maintain at home. If you find a stylist who hits these marks, it’s a good investment.

“Even if it’s way over on the other side of town, it’s worth it,” Connor said. “[Your hair] is the dress you can’t take off. It’s a fashion accessory that is always with you.”