“Salons have
the power
to spread
information.
Why not be
influential
in people’s
lifestyles?”
—
—David Thurston,
co-owner of
Butterfly Loft Salon
and the metal elements
are all reclaimed materials.
Furniture is recycled,
refurbished and rescued
from salons in nearby
Manhattan where Parker
worked for 25 years. She
says frequent remodels—
every two years or so—are
the norm for upscale New
York salons wanting to
freshen their look. Making
use of their discards is
one way she is combating waste.
The Dunes also supports a number
of environmental organizations,
including the National Resources
Defense Council. “We donate at the
end of every month to all kinds of
advocacies,” she says.
Even if you don’t have a carpenter or
environmental attorney in the family, it’s
still possible to take steps to lower your
salon’s environmental impact. Getting
everyone on board—staff and clients—
is key. Thurston drafted a manual of
eco-friendly practices for new hires at
Butterfly Loft. Having things in writing
makes it clear what’s expected, he says,
and invests each person with a sense
of personal responsibility. “The things
we do at home are fun and it’s been fun
bringing them into the salon.”
Parker says recycling has become
a way of life for her young staff. “We
American Salon April 2011
recycled and sustainable
materials, like the bamboo
flooring. Marks says they
wanted an Asian theme
to the decor, and the
warm woods and natural
elements provided a
perfect backdrop.
Salon Botanique
Artistic Director and
co-owner Stacy Beyer
chose Organic Color
Systems after auditioning
a number of color brands. “A lot of
clients were skeptical, but once they
tried it, they loved it,” she says. Organic
Color Systems uses heat to soften the
cuticle, rather than using chemicals
to open it, resulting not just in better
coverage, but better conditioning. “I
love the fact that it has no ammonia
or peroxide,” Beyer says. “It’s safe for
everyone—even pregnant women. I
had asthma before; I haven’t used my
inhaler since we switched.”
Kat Parker also chose Organic
Color Systems for The Dunes Salon
in Nanuet, NY. “We specialize in
corrective and editorial color,” says
Parker. She says the brand won
performance tests against competitors
in the salon. “They had the best
palette,” she says. “I can do anything
with it. I can reproduce exactly what’s
on the pages of a magazine.”
From the beginning, Parker and
co-owner Patricia Trail made a serious
commitment to being an eco-friendly
and cruelty-free salon. As a result,
Parker says, The Dunes is surviving in
a tough, competitive market alongside
some well-established salons, and
is thriving by providing products and
services that are organic, natural
and non-toxic. “We get referrals from
doctors’ offices and from patients who
are breast cancer survivors, chemo
patients or people with allergies,” says
Parker.
The Dunes’ color bar is a monument
to sustainability. Handmade by a local
craftsman, it’s built of dark cherry and
other sustainable woods. The glass top
recycle about 85 percent of everything
we use,” she says. “The most we have
at the end of any day is one bag of
garbage.” All hair clippings are saved
for Matter of Trust, an organization that
makes mats to soak up oil spills.
Many salons looking for natural, organic, ammonia-free color choose
Organic Color Systems.
