MENU
SEARCHThis salon hits the right notes as a creative hub for innovative hair design and creative arts.
Will Bostock
Blue Hair Studio
Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
When Will Bostock opened Blue Hair Studio, his goal was to give clients a creative experience that went beyond hairdressing. Ten years later, he can safely say he's surpassed that goal. With live jazz on the weekends, an artists' gallery and creative-clothing boutique, the salon is a vibrant crossroads for creative arts.
Q. How did you get your start in the salon business?
A. My first salon was with a partner. We were two crazy, naive 23-year-olds jumping into business and figuring it out as we went along.
Q. What is your salon's business philosophy?
A. Always keep a commitment to progressive education, encourage individuals to express their creativity and trust their vision. We always welcome and accept every kind of person (being hip is being comfortable in your own skin)-negativity and creativity cannot co-exist, so be responsible for your emotional exhaust.
Q. What makes your salon unique?
A. Valuing creativity and client comfort over maximizing every inch of space for services. We have an experimental lounge space with roomy areas, and Art Deco vanities and martini cabinets make up the cutting stations in a historic hotel-the vibe is eclectic.
Q. What niches do you target?
A. All of our ads or promotional pieces say "Be Different … Be Blue," so we target people from all walks of life who are looking for something new or unique. From brides who don't want typical hair and make-up, to a person looking to change her whole look.
Q. How is your salon celebrating its 10th anniversary?
A. To celebrate a decade of creativity, we are doing a "starving artist's" special. We are doing makeovers for musicians, artists and dancers-completely free of charge.
Q. What has been your greatest challenge in your business?
A. To have a work environment that's fun, loose and spontaneous, but to maintain professionalism and accountability-sometimes it's a difficult balance.
Q. What was the last event you hosted?
A. A night of Cuban jazz with the Grammy-winning talents of the Elio Villafranca Quintet. This event was a Valentine's Day 2008 fundraiser for the Ray of Hope Foundation, a nonprofit I co-founded to help disadvantaged Philadelphia families with home repairs.
Q. How has incorporating live music affected your salon?
A. The spontaneous nature of live jazz makes for an expressive, vibrant atmosphere that inspires the staff, relaxes the clients and gives back to the artistic community.
Q. What are your plans for the future?
A. To continually make it a better place to work: put more back into the business, tighten up systems, invest in staff's educational travel and branch out into more editorial and teaching opportunities. Also, to always look outside of the box for the next thing we can be involved in-possibly a body art boutique.
Blue Hair Studio
Established: 1998
Website:www.bluehairstudio.com
Spa setup: 13 chairs, two treatments rooms
Square feet: 3,400
Employees: 23
Prices: cut $35-$60; single process color $45; spa services $65-$80
Salon software: Elite Management
Equipment/furnishings: Belvedere and antique
Primary hair care line: Profound Beauty
Primary chemical line: Wella
Primary skin care line: Neo Strata
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
The former CFO of Perdue Farms and owner of Hardy Seafood, Terry Owens delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs in his new book, "Business is Simple."
After scaling her single-location salon business, SALON TODAY 200 Honoree Amy Pal recently sold her six-location Whip Salon for seven figures. Using the six Ps for maximizing a business's value, she's ready to help her peers do the same.
Buried inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are federal solar tax credit changes that deserve your attention now. Two of the credits that matter most to commercial property owners, the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit, are still available, but only if you move fast. A third, the Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Deduction, has a hard termination date that is closer than most people realize.
Up to 40% of hair stylists ghost the salon interview stage, leaving owners trapped playing endless phone tag with uncommitted applicants. This data-driven report breaks down why traditional job boards create recruitment friction and reveals the modern messaging strategies high-growth salons use to get pre-qualified talent to actually show up. Learn how to transition from cold calling to high-conversion conversations that protect your time and fill your chairs.
Sponsored by Beautista
Spit fests, hostile threats, and even an overachieving matchmaker--SALON TODAY readers share their craziest client tales and how their team handled these tough situations with professionalism and grace.
Keeping your appointment book full when clients are in vacation mode takes more than a good Instagram post. It takes a plan. The 2026 Summer Marketing Calendar from Meevo gives salon, spa & med spa owners a month-by-month roadmap with sharp themes, key opportunity dates, and campaign ideas specifically designed for the beauty & wellness industry. Here’s to your summer season working as hard as you do!
Sponsored by Millennium Systems International
AI is transforming the beauty and wellness industry, and the future is about empowering people, not replacing them. Discover how Phorest AI helps salons, spas, and med spas across North America respond faster, personalize every visit, and keep human connection at the heart of the client experience.
Sponsored by Phorest
Owner Michaella Blissett-Williams credits her General Manager Gloria Hortua with [salon] 718's year-over-year, double-digit growth and says she's been able to scale the company to eight locations because she can rely on Hortua to manage daily operations.
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Elyse Rogers is an uplifting presence at The Headroom who makes the team feel heard even in stressful situations. Owner Danielle Cherewyk sings her praises in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Despite a slight and predictable decline in client traffic for Q1, resilient pricing power is driving year-over-year revenue growth in salons. The KIM Report's Alain Audet reviews the data and what it's telling us about the state of professional beauty.
Same-store revenue grew just 2% for the second straight year—and new guest visits declined across every segment of the industry. The 2026 Benchmark Report reveals where growth is actually happening, which verticals are pulling ahead, and what the data says about where your business stands right now.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Hair restoration is entering a new era driven by regenerative science. This paper explores how Exosome technology is transforming treatment outcomes by targeting hair loss at a cellular level. Discover why EXOGROW is leading this shift.
Sponsored by Dermapenworld
A salon brand is much more than a logo. In this thought-provoking blog, Leon Alexander, Ph.D., walks you through the difference. SALON TODAY suggests sharing this article with your team and leading a discussion at your next huddle, asking the team to define your business's brand.
