Founded by the talented Bridget Dunworth and Mana Katanchi, Salon Bay is more than just a place to get your hair done — it's a beautifully crafted retreat. Since recently opening their doors, we had the opportunity to catch up with Bridget and Mana to explore what sets Salon Bay apart, their approach to delivering an exceptional salon experience, and their tips for maintaining stunning hair year-round.
Congratulations on the opening of your stunning new salon! We would love to know the story behind how Salon Bay came to be?
Thank you so much! Like any true love story it was about two people meeting each other at the perfect time. Although we were both happy with where we were at in our lives and careers we each had a desire to create something more meaningful and realised how valuable it would be to combine our strengths and collaborate on this amazing venture together.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you received before opening Salon Bay?
The most valuable piece of advice we received was to make sure you have a common goal of putting the business first and work together to solve problems rather than placing blame on anyone. There will be times where we each make mistakes and to focus on fixing them together as a team and never forget why we started.
We’re thrilled to see that you’re already featuring Aéde on your shelves. What made you choose Aéde as the brand to represent?
We love Aéde! For us it was a no brainer, we truly believe in the brand and have each used the products and have had amazing results so it only felt natural to represent the brand and share the product with our clients.
When do you both find yourselves feeling most inspired?
For us it's always travel, we feel most inspired when visiting new places and cultures. We love to visit salons wherever we may be in the world and stroll the streets, museums, fashion districts and sit in a cafe/restaurant and people watch.
What songs are currently dominating your salon playlist?
Depends on who gets into the salon first, if it’s M it's J Balvin at the moment. If it’s B it’s Khalid.
What is the most common advice you share with clients for keeping their hair healthy at home, especially during the cooler months?
We are big on hair health at salon bay, so always try and emphasise the importance of heat protection and minimising heat at home. Also having a super nourishing treatment in the shower to use instead of conditioner.
How do you like to relax after a busy day at the salon?
Cooking dinner with a big glass of red, or strolling to one of the delicious restaurants we’re lucky to have close by to the salon in Double Bay and laughing over dinner and drinks.
Is there a hair trend you’d love to see make a comeback?
We love seeing so many styles making a comeback, in particular big bouncy blowouts with lots of layers.
