GRAND OPENING

Salon Journey

Salon Journey is the hair salon where families start and stay

Article By Alyson Turner Photography By Ro Moreno

Salon Journey Owner Aja Nelson has a passion for serving. When clients come to her salon, they receive more than hair and scalp care, they are encouraged and supported in a variety of ways. Serving families and the community drives the vision for her salon

“I started a business to make difference on a larger scale that couldn’t be done by myself alone. I’ve always had a dream of building a team to touch lives in an impactful way to help motivate, encourage and empower those around me. I enjoy being a role model, encouraging and supporting families and individuals. One thing I enjoy and look forward to the most is mentoring youth through different stages of their lives. At Salon Journey we encourage youth to dream big, make a plan, and pursue what their heart desires,” Aja says.

Aja, a licensed stylist since 2007, opened Salon Journey on June 13, 2020. Aja tells us, “I have always done hair and wanted to work with children. This is a family service salon; serving generations of family from as young as age 2 through adulthood. I have a strong desire to serve and I find that I do this through hair in various communities.

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To book your appointment or class, call 301.302.8090 or visit SalonJourneyCo.com.

[We see] the journey of life through hair, weddings, funerals, birthdays, cheer/dance competitions, graduations and life celebrations, I am there with them.”

Salon Journey is a full-service salon that serves all textures of hair. “We do 90% of natural hair, protective styling, hair treatments and scalp care as well as relaxers and silk press. At Salon Journey we serve both children and adults. I have a family-friendly atmosphere and pride myself on catering to children. The salon is warm and welcoming with a lot of inspirational quotes all around. Our salon is a place where families get serviced together. Mommy and me make-overs are popular. We also do children styles for young men who have locs, twist or braids. We offer a variety of styles that cater to all hair care needs,” Aja says, “We use Influence Hair Care products, a black-owned company with a high-end natural, organic line that clients love and we sell for retail in the salon and online.”

For COVID-19 precautions, everyone who comes in must wear a face mask. The stations are spaced apart so that clients are able to maintain social distance. All of the stylists are serving one client at a time, or one family at a time. Aja says, “This is not just because of COVID. We never double book or keep clients waiting. We pride ourselves on being on time and making sure individuals get the time and attention they need for a overall great salon visit. Your appointment time is your appointment time.” Besides servicing families that come to the salon, Aja and Salon Journey continue to engage and serve the community. She offers classes to both youth and adults on protective styling techniques and hair and scalp maintenance. She has partnered with local organizations and charities such as youth dance and cheer teams, and youth recreational leagues to extended her services mentoring and styling. In November, Salon Journey is teaming up with local companies to sponsor food and coat drives.

Classes offered are for tots, teens and young adults, letting them build both their entrepreneurial skills as well as technical hair skills.

“We have a Mommy and Me class where the mom or child will service each other, they will learn how to properly style, detangle, condition, shampoo, and blow dry. We offer Journey Express 101 where individuals learn protective styling techniques and hair and scalp maintenance. There is also Journey Express Your Way which caters to individuals’ particular needs ,” Aja says.

Salon Journey is a place for those seeking to build long lasting relationships that serves their families and partnerships in the community.. “The salon is so much more than just doing hair. It’s a joy for me to be able to give back and make an impact on those near and far from me.

Ph: 301.302.8090 Email: SalonJourneyCo@ gmail.com