A Sustainable Journey Through Bare Beauty House

By Paul Frasca

Sustainability in the salon is an ongoing journey. My partner Ewelina and I began our Sustainable Salons journey by taking a trip around Australia, discovering that the industry was sending 1 million kilograms of infinitely recyclable aluminium foil to landfill every year.

Now more than 10 years later, Sustainable Salons services 1400+ salons in Australia and New Zealand, and we’ve recycled over 1.2 million kilograms of salon waste.

We recently caught up with long-time Sustainable Salons member Naomi Browner from Bare Beauty House in Manly, NSW to chat through her business journey and how Sustainable Salons has supported her sustainability mission.

Q&A: Tell us about why you joined Sustainable Salons.

I first discovered Sustainable Salons while operating my previous salon, and just fell in love with the concept. As I have expanded and opened my hair and beauty salon, Bare Beauty House in Manly now, the Sustainable Salons program was a no-brainer for waste removal.

“It was just amazing and a game changer for the industry.” Naomi Browner / Owner of Bare Beauty House

Operationally do the team find the Sustainable Salons program easy to use across both hair and beauty services?

Yes! The bins are amazing, they give instructions on what to do, and what not to do, as long as we have them in the right spots I find that is quite key. The kitchen has been designed to specifically fit the bins. They’re nicely tucked away but also really accessible. We worked out how many bins we needed, where we needed them, and what was going to make the most sense with how the staff operate daily.

What does Sustainability mean to your clients?

In Manly, it’s a really big focus for a lot of people. People are really sustainably minded, and they really live that lifestyle. Our clients seek us out because we can offer them that little bit extra. They can come in, have their luxurious treatments and know that it’s sustainable, know we are using toxic-free treatments & products, and recycle correctly. Our clients are happy to pay a Sustainable Salons Fee because then they can walk away from their services knowing they’re doing something good for themselves and the planet.

“Consumers are really looking for that nextlevel service, gearing themselves around what they can do as far as their hair and beauty treatments having minimal impact on the earth, but a great impact on their lifestyle.” Renee Pearce / Sustainable Salons Customer Success Manager

What has been the greatest impact your salon has made since joining our program?

Top sustainability tips from Bare Beauty House:

The ability to recycle all of the plastic bottles accumulated from hair and beauty services! We do all we can to reduce our waste, and one additional service we offer is a refill station, where clients can refill any product they need into a previously purchased plastic or glass bottle. For our beauty services, being able to recycle the waxing spatulas and the waxing strips was an absolute game-changer.

1. Partnering with sustainably minded brands

2. Becoming a Sustainable Salons Member

3. Using eco-head basins - saving 60% of water

4. Plan how many bins you need & where to keep them

5. Optimise your space eg. small bins that decant into larger bins in a designated area

6. Upcycling product packaging

7. Research those sustainable swaps eg. recycled salon foil!

8. Implement a client refill station

9. Talk to your clients about sustainability and what is important to them

Taking one step at a time, big or small, will help you kickstart your sustainability journey and will speak volumes to your staff & clients. New eco-conscious consumers are also more likely to seek you out because your values align with theirs. From ecohead basins, hair colour with packaging that breaks down as you use it, refill stations to recycled salon foil, you can help make sustainability reality for your salon community.

Keen to join the movement? Scan the QR code to learn more!