New salon opens with green intentions

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This article was published 04/08/2020 (2089 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A new salon is bringing greener options for hair and beauty services to the North End.

Emerald + Oak (845 McGregor St.), which held its grand opening on July 25, has implemented a number of practices to reduce the business’s environmental footprint, according to co-owners Keshia Wiebe and Amanda Sutherland.

“That (is) one of our main goals as a business — to be (as) environmentally friendly as possible,” Sutherland said.

This includes using vegan and cruelty-free products, issuing paper-less receipts, and partnering with Green Circle — an organization that collects and diverts salon waste, such as hair clippings and used foil, from landfills and waterways.

There are more than 20 Green Circle salons in Winnipeg, according to its website.

Wiebe, 31, and Sutherland, 27, both have more than 10 years of experience in the industry.

The pair met at Regis Salon when it was operating at Garden City Shopping Centre. After Regis shut down and they tried working at other salons, the women decided to start their own business. A grant from the Manitoba Metis Federation helped the pair get the idea off the ground.

Their initial plan to open earlier this year was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing the salon’s start date to June 9.

Emerald + Oak offers full hair services, as well as eyelash extensions, tanning, and message therapy by Barbara Cantley of The Stone Lotus.

“And we’re always open to learning new things, and we’ll be taking new classes all the time to keep us updated,” Wiebe said.

All salon staff are Regis alumni.

“As long as I can remember we always talked about having a Regis girls … salon, and being able to provide that space where our staff and we are very comfortable with each other,” Sutherland said. “It’s like our second home.”

For more information, search Emerald + Oak on Facebook and Instagram or visit https://www.bestprosintown.com/mb/winnipeg/emerald-and-oak-salon-/