Thirty Two Salon in Saskatoon provides a relaxing environment for haircuts and styles
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Adamson grew up in Bradwell, but has been living in Saskatoon now for about 15 years and has been gradually moving towards opening her own salon since starting in the industry 11 years ago. The name she chose for her salon was in part related to her age at the time. She self-renovated her space in the York Building over the course of three or four months, and has four others working with her, plus periodic guest designers.
Q: Why did you decide to open the thirty-second salon?
a: I used to work in a private space in a salon suite by myself. It was a co-working space with other designers there but we all had our own room. I had worked in other salons before this and I kind of wanted to feel completely independent. I worked there for about a year and then I started looking at spaces. I wanted a smaller, more intimate setting. It’s nice to be with other stylists but in a smaller workspace rather than a really big salon with a lot of people. I really enjoy the camaraderie of still having a team, but it was really nice to grow a little team and have other designers to bounce ideas off of and learn from each other. The space is not very big but big enough and it is in a new place.
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Q: What services do you provide?
a: Now it’s all hair styling. Myself and other stylists provide hair styles, colors, and extensions. But we don’t have any aesthetics or anything like that. We have a barber who provides shaving services only for males and females. We provide bleaching services as a specialty and vivid colors. We are very passionate about education and keep up to date with new hair coloring techniques. We offer these tools in addition to advanced cutting, and I am also an extension educator. That’s why I provide most of the mentorship services. I have one stylist who started right out of hair school so you haven’t learned extensions yet, but my other stylist also offers extension services.
Q: Do you provide hair extension services to other hairdressers?
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a: I educate other hairdressers on how to do extension services. I work for a company called Philocaly. It is an extension company originally based in Regina. They sell hair extensions, and also offer additional education. We teach anywhere in Canada and the United States now. I offer classes in person in Saskatoon and online via Zoom as well.
Q: What kind of background do you and your employees have in hairdressing?
a: I’ve been doing poetry for 11 years, all here in Saskatoon. I took my school here in Saskatoon. I’ve worked in a few salons here and then went on to rent chairs, then rent suites and now to open my own salon.
Our barber has been shaving since he was a teenager. He went to school about seven years ago. He has already mentored other barbers. The only stylist i use has been making hair for 10 years. My other designers, two years ago. Hence the hairdresser comes straight from the hair school.
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Q: Do you offer openings for guest stylists to provide services as well?
a: I have a stylist come here from Regina. She specializes in coloring curly hair. Come here usually once or twice a month. She only advertises on her Instagram and usually fills up a day or two. And I have this opportunity for other fashion designers if they want to come from another city to work for a day or two.
Q: Do you also sell any products?
a: I carry a hair care line called Living Proof and K18. Features shampoo, conditioner, hair styling tools, and just about everything.
Q: What sets you apart from other Saskatoon-based designers?
a: We have a really welcoming and inclusive environment. We are very passionate about providing the best hair services that we can. We all think education is important. I like people to have a good time when they’re in the chair, and it’s time for them to rest. So we have snacks that we provide because sometimes our customers sit for three to four hours and don’t think about getting something to eat before they come. We offer coffee, water, tea and champagne, and we usually have some kind of pop on hand, like Pepsi or Coca-Cola. We are all very passionate about what we do and want to give our customers the very best in hair. I think we all make it totally neat. Most of us have long standing clients and we’ve built relationships with them and I would say this is really important to all of us.
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Q: What do you love most about running the 32nd Salon?
a: It has been really fun to make this space my own. The interior design part of it is fun, and it was fun making the team that we have, and I’m excited about them. Some of my stylists are newer but whether they are newer in the industry or have been in it for a while we can all learn something from each other. It’s good that you’ve built a small team with similar goals, work styles, and vision for the space as well. I would say it’s a really relaxing space, and we all enjoy our work and contribute to the space.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
Salon thirty-two
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