A Business Dream Realized: Salon deZEN Brings Its Signature Style to North Old Town
I remember the day I cut the ribbon outside my first business. The very first iteration of Salon deZEN, named for “de” (meaning “of” or “from” in French) and ZEN (symbolizing harmony and balance between how you feel on the inside and how you express yourself on the outside), was located at 1008 King St. It was surreal. After moving from my Midwest roots, in 2003 my feet finally felt firmly planted in Alexandria, and I knew this was where I wanted to be. I had sharpened my skills and built a client base and community at Sugar House. And when I was ready in 2007, I set out to open my own salon.
That was in 2007, and in 2013, after five years, we moved into a bigger space at 118 N Fayette St., where we’ve been for over a decade.
Fast forward to 2025, and my vision of expansion has taken physical form: Salon deZEN’s second location is now open at 533 Montgomery Street. We’re adjacent to St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub, Sisters Thai, and Oak Steakhouse, across from MacMillan Spirit House, caddy corner to Hank’s Oyster Bar, and around the block from AKA Alexandria. It’s such a vibrant area—there’s art, parks, new developments, and a friendly, active community—and we’re still in Old Town.
You can visit us at either location, whichever is most convenient for you. This new space also boasts a private treatment room for scalp care—a very necessary and often neglected regimen in haircare. Services begin with a consultation and scan of your scalp, followed by an individualized treatment plan using Oway (owayusa.com) and Zenagen (zenagen.com) to address concerns like hair loss, thinning, shedding, dry scalp, excess oil, and irritation.
All other services—including Haircut and Styling, Color (Single Process, Root Touch-up, Highlights, Balayage, Gloss, Toner, Color Correction), Texture (Keratin, Brazilian Blowout, Curl Cult Perm, Permanent Wave, Relaxer), and Hair Treatments (Deep Conditioning, K18, Olaplex)—are available. Aesthetic services remain exclusively at the Fayette Street location.
And if you’re not sure which stylist is the perfect fit for you, try our Beauty Matchmaking Quiz! This tool helps pair clients with the right service provider based on their hair needs, personality, and communication style. You can take the quiz here: Find Your Match.
Subtle brag, but I’m very excited about the wallpaper adorning our entrance—it captures the light just right and makes the whole place glow. Reach out to us to book your next appointment and check out the new space!
salondezen.com | FB: @salondezen | IG: @salondezen
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