Meet Erika Clary | Salon Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erika Clary and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erika, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have never worked at a place that felt like me; a place where being unique was celebrated. Because I always felt like an oddball at every salon I had ever worked at or visited, I was inspired to create something that leans into odd. Look for all the tiny bones hidden throughout the salon, but more importantly, be greeted with a genuine hello from the personnel behind the desk with wild makeup and great hair. If you appreciate the dramatic, you’ve found your place.
My vision was to create a unique salon experience for our clients and provide our guests with something that feels different from anywhere else, giving each guest a sense of belonging.
With that vision in mind, my goal was to help other professionals be their best through mentoring and providing consistent education and training to achieve the highest client experience.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I started this endeavor, my main vision was to have this great environment to do hair in. I am both a licensed cosmetologist and a barber and doing hair has always been my passion. As the salon has matured and evolved, so have I. My goals became so much bigger than myself when I brought on employees. I now have the responsibility for their livelihoods, their workplace culture, and I can help these talented artists become successful and happy professionals. My vision of what I want has widened to include some of the best people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. It was important for me to find like-minded individuals. Others who believe that everyone deserves care & concern. Hair is gender neutral. And we can only thrive in this industry by continuing to learn and grow. One of the cornerstones of our salon is our education program that all professionals attend. It is a big source of pride for me to be able to keep my employees engaged and fulfilled. I believe that’s the most important thing I could be doing right now.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would love the opportunity to show a friend my favorite things around the valley. Depending on the time of year, we are either going to the Phoenix Art Museum in the summer or the Botanical Gardens in the winter. We would have to stop for cocktails at Undertow, a tiki themed bar experience. Next on the list would be Presidio Cocina Mexicana for delicious Mexican food. Because we love Japanese culture, shopping at Teso Life and Daiso is a must. We would also have to go on the haunted tour of downtown Phoenix and likely Pigtails for their charcuterie board and flaming cocktails after. One of the best spots to catch a sunset is at South Mountain, made better with a treat brought from Urban Cookie. Finally, we’re going to catch up with the old team at the local derby warehouse.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to my parents for their unwavering support, encouragement and love.
So much recognition to Colleen Sinclair for her on-going friend/mentorship. She is blazing her own trail with a business dedicated to creating products derived from healthy & local ingredients. Her wisdom and encouragement have been invaluable in my success and growth.
Shoutout to my colleagues, other stylists and salon owners who offer inspiration while working tirelessly for this vision. The dedication and perseverance it takes to thrive in this industry is understated & having a strong support system is crucial for personal and professional growth.
I also carve out time daily for audiobooks. Libby is a wonderful resource, and I admit that I often gravitate to personal growth subjects. Lately my focus has been building better habits. “Atomic Habits”, “The Power of Habits”, hilariously the list goes on and on. and.

Website: https://www.arcanehairparlour.com

Instagram: arcanehairparlour

Image Credits
Group Photo by Gregory Rothstein