The Story of the Retro Redhead Salon Retro Redhead Salon is not your average salon. They have put a lot of time and energy into crafting a space where people feel safe to share, be themselves and find belonging in the world of style. Sam Donaldson has worked in the salon industry for the last 24 years and has her own experience in finding spaces that meet her needs, wanting to provide this for her clients as well. Despite being an honours student she was not a fan of school and didn’t have the same interest in going into university as many others did after high school. Sam ultimately chose to dive headfirst into the world of hair, knowing that having a trade meant always having a job. This proved to be true. After her mentorship with Irene Franco, formerly of Salon Brittash, Sam hit the road and began travelling throughout Canada. At 25 her nomadic lifestyle, although fun, became tiring. Missing the creature comforts of a stable life and family she made the decision to return home to Woodstock. Her hunger for change led her to teach hair colour for AVEDA across southwestern Ontario. Through this she really had the opportunity to see how so many salons run, and so differently at that. This knowledge, combined with her understanding of her own ADHD inspired her decision about the kind of salon she would want to run. She knew that a salon can be a difficult place for many to enter when they deal with needs that bustling salons cannot accommodate.
where she could now accept clients. As someone who suffers with Rheumatoid Arthritis she wanted a space that allowed her to maneuver with ease and provide a great service in the process. Having learned to love OEV for its more diverse nature she wanted to include this in her salon as well. Whether you are part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, neurodiverse or simply looking for silent treatments Retro Redhead is the place to go. Sam and her staff have created a space where everyone belongs. She continues to build on this with the work she’s been doing with LAST, (London Autistic Standing Together), to develop a safe space to meet even more diverse needs. ‘Retro Redhead is not for everyone, and that’s ok!’, is literally what you will see on your first intake form when you set up an appointment. They want their clients to feel at ease offering them the opportunity to be brave and to tell them exactly what they want before coming in. I mean, when it comes to style, who doesn’t want that?
In July of 2022 Sam chose to open her own salon here in Old East Village. She had been living in the neighbourhood for some time and decided to create a space at the back of her property Mural by Pamela Scharback.
retroredheadsalon.com 519-777-7771 635 Central Precision Haircuts • Curls • Customized Colour • Treatments • Styling Solutions
Page 10 Old East Villager November/December 2024
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