The all-new J Society salon covers a bigger space with the same intimate family-style feel the salon is famous for, as fittingly led by sister duo Kate and Sarah Jones. The salon has moved from a 70 square metre space to 110 square metres, making space for both a growing team and clientele, and ushering in updated aesthetic features that herald a new era for the salon brand.
“Having operated through COVID in such a small space, our first stipulation was to have our work stations all 1.5 meters apart or the ability to socially distance where applicable. It’s funny how things have changed now, so much so, it was one of our first thoughts during the design process,” the sisters said. “We’re lucky that we generally agree on most things, interior design almost always.”
That design manifested in a natural style space inspired by the generous input of sunlight, a necessity for their status as a go-to colour destination.
“We had had a huge amount of natural light to work with in our new space as it is a corner block and maximising that was essential. There is nothing more important to us as hairstylists and colourists,” Kate and Sarah said. “The amount of natural light led us to choose more natural surfaces with our interior choices as well. Blackbutt timber was chosen for the benches in the cutting stations and the large colour table, all with a natural matte finish to minimise too much reflection from the large floor to ceiling windows.”
“Blackbutt timber also ended up being used again when we made the decision to have 70s inspired shelves from the ceiling above the second reception desk. We thought this would help create the illusion of a separate reception area, whilst keeping the salon completely open plan, allowing the windows to create most of the light on the salon floor,” the sisters continued.
Other aesthetic highlights include versatile chairs to delineate the salon areas, and a hero colour processing table that enables the conversation and community that is core to the J Society salon DNA.
“The choice to have different colour styling chairs also helped us create the illusion of separate salon areas. We stayed earthy and natural with them too, having sage green in the cutting area, a cream recycled plastic chair around the colour table and brown for all the basin chairs,” they shared.
“Our favourite piece is the large round colour processing table. Not only is this visually spectacular and our feature furniture piece, but it also allows our clients to socialise and chat with other guests or utilise the USB points provided to work. The ability to seat 10 clients at the table was a good business strategy as well, as our colour table allows us to move clients out of other stations as their colour develops and frees up those spaces for other clients and appointments.”
Their long-term roles as salon owners have allowed them to create the new space according to their needs, accommodating their team in a way they know is relevant and important. Testament to that is the new colour room, designed with optimal efficiency and ease for the hairdressers in mind.
“Having all worked in poky backrooms where you mix your colours where you make your lunch, we built a separate colour room and kitchen,” they said. “The colour room houses all our Paul Mitchell colour products on one side, with cabinetry to the ceiling and draws under the work bench to keep our excess colours and developers. The other side has a sink, mixing area and foil machine. This keeps all our stock levels easy to see and maintain and all the colour mixing and cleaning in the one room.”
This set up ensures the best possible use of their Paul Mitchell technologies, a brand partnership key to the space that complements the salon in its family values and sustainable mindset.
“We have a shared ethos that is aligned in every way,” they said. “We love that PM is still a family-owned business and that they care about the environment as much as the industry. The environmental side of PM just keeps getting better each year. That is also a huge selling point with our clientele, who love the large retail range and obviously their colour results!”
This new design suits and elevates a salon mentality focused on team, skill, education and community, where clients and team members are all cared for and made to feel part of the titular J Society.
“All our clients comment on how beautiful and homely the environment is that we have created,” Kate and Sarah said. “This comes down to the way we have designed our space, but largely is a reflection of our incredible team. Clients feeling comfortable and welcomed is one of our biggest necessities and we are so happy we are able to offer this experience. It is also one of the only salons I have worked in where our clients are genuinely happy to see almost any stylist. This is largely due to the education that we are offered through Paul Mitchell and the education we can bring back to our staff from being a part of the Australian Paul Mitchell Education team and Global Ambassadors.”
Join the family, with J Society.
For more information visit www.jsociety.com.au
Images by Leah Moore Photography
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