It’s not every day you are treated to ‘zen time’ during your hair cut, find your new favourite ethical nail polish, and get invited back to yoga by your hair stylist.
After finding Bob Melbourne through Sustainable Salons Australia, my expectations of a sustainable salon were blown out of the water, and I simply cannot wait to go back.
To be honest, I hadn’t set foot in a hair salon for about five years before I visited Bob.
The stress levels of salons, and the excessive waste are too much for me to justify, so I used to stick to my friend’s kitchen for a yearly trim.
But after my Bob salon experience, I’m sold on Sustainable Salons.
"My expectations of a sustainable salon were blown out of the water, and I simply cannot wait to go back."
Amanda and Charlotte, founders of Bob, have created a space that exudes peace and simplicity; the exact vibes you want to feel when you visit the hairdresser. Getting your haircut is often the only chance for busy mums or stressful business women to have their ‘me’ time, and the team at Bob have totally nailed this.
“A simpler approach to well-being enriches our lives. With an environmental sensibility, our clients are not only improving their health when they choose to go natural; they are improving the earth, too.”- Bob Melbourne.
The space is designed with a minimalist approach; greenery, soft tones, and functional furniture all lit by lighting that doesn’t leave you blinded. I was treated to a herbal chai tea and raw caramel slice, whilst Amanda worked her magic on my hair, and taught me about their sustainable salon practices.
Meanwhile, I marvelled at the few organic products (deodorants and nail polishes) dotted on the benches to encourage customers to grow their eco-journey.
Sustainability
Bob Melbourne are devoted to keeping all practices safe for their client, but also the planet.
Here are a few things they do to reduce their salon footprint:
- Recycle all their foil
- Reuse their biodegradable gloves until they are no longer usable. They then cut them up and put them in their in-house compost bin.
- Use only the hair dye that they need (conscious of the application process)
- Work with Sustainable Salons Australia who collect all their waste which is all recycled in the correct ways (e.g. all hair waste is turned into hair booms that are used to soak up oil spills, and longer ponytails are used to make wigs)
- Install shower heads that use 65% less water than regular shower heads
- Who Gives A Crap eco toilet paper is found in their bathroom
All natural
Botaniq is one of the natural brands Bob use in their regular treatments, and of course, all products are cruelty free and made with natural ingredients. To make these eco-practices sustainable for the salon too, a ‘green fee’ of $3 is added on to every bill; a small cost that customers are always more than happy to contribute.
Customers are treated with more care than you’ll find in other salons, and I left floating on a cloud. ‘Zen time’ involves five minutes in the chair between hair washing, with a hot towel over your hair, and shade covering your eyes. In a face paced world, ‘zen time’ is crucial, but we often forget to initiate it ourselves. Those five minutes were the icing on the cake for my treatment.
More than a salon
Bob Melbourne don’t stop at hair. They encourage their clients to embrace a holistic healthy life-style. Amanda and Charlotte run yoga classes, meditation sessions, and workshops in their salon space out of salon hours.
“Because being natural is not skin deep, our salon supports a plethora of green initiatives that ensure our work does not hurt our earth.”
In an industry full of waste, over consumption, and mindlessness, Bob Melbourne have gone the extra mile in creating a space where trust is built, the planet is honoured, and women are left looking and feeling their natural best!
Check out Sustainable Salons if you’re in Australia or New Zealand, to find an eco-hairdresser near you.
