Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Schaaf.
Hi Whitney, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Wisconsin and moved to New York City when I was 18 years old. I started working the front desk at a Fifth Avenue hair salon and quickly realized I wanted to make this industry my career, so I enrolled in cosmetology school. I spent the next 14 years in New York City learning from incredibly talented and creative people, working at a top salon, building my skills, and falling in love with the art of hair.
In 2017, after visiting Austin numerous times, I made the move to be closer to my boyfriend (who is now the dad to my 3 beautiful kids). I made the decision that if I was going to start over in a new city, I wanted to eventually build something that was my own. I started working at a local salon and pretty quickly built a clientele and was fortunate enough to meet and become close friends with a group of incredibly talented stylists who shared the same passion for the industry, and one who became my business partner!
When Covid hit, and while I was pregnant, I decided to get the ball rolling. We found a small space, renovated (very slowly because Covid!) and got the doors open and in August 2021, Saturdays Hair Co. was born! Just two weeks after opening day, I gave birth to twin girls. Looking back, it was one of the most challenging, craziest, and ultimately the most rewarding experiences of my life.
At the end of the summer, we will be getting ready to celebrate five years in our space, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built! I get to work alongside my friends every day and over the years have had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people through our chairs. Hearing our client’s stories, celebrating their milestones, and becoming a small part of their lives in something I’ll never take for granted. This is what makes Saturdays Hair Co. so special to me, and it’s something I deeply appreciate every day, and as far as we’ve come, I know we’re just getting started.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our biggest challenge was building out the salon and getting it ready to open during COVID. Between construction delays, supply shortages, and all the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, there were plenty of moments where we had to pivot. We ended up about 4 months delayed which is how we got so close to my due date!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Saturdays Hair Co., we specialize in custom color, haircuts, smoothing treatments and extensions. I personally specialize in long layered haircuts and hand-tied extensions. I love creating natural looking extensions that can transform someone’s entire look.
I think our customer services sets us apart from most salons. We are a small space, and do our best to make everyone that steps foot in the salon feel taken care of. We are also a very collaborative team, and are always supporting one another, there is no competition between us and I think that is rare to see in a salon environment. We truly really enjoy working with each other and want to see one another succeed.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the people in Austin! Starting over in a new city in your 30’s isn’t the easiest but I have met some of my best friends here. I also love the hike and bike trail and that it’s surrounded by nature while you’re also in the middle of the city.
I live in Dripping Springs and commute to central Austin daily, so I think the worst possible thing about Austin is by far the traffic! Sitting on Mopak for hours a week isn’t my idea of fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://saturdayshairco.com
- Instagram: @saturdayshairco
