Golden Salon in Downtown Ferndale Aims for Beauty and Community

(Elizabeth Schanz, Nov. 18, 2022)

Ferndale, MI – KayLyn Havranek started at her first job at age 15 working as a hairdresser. She fell in love with the work and the ability to connect with clients not only through styling hair but to the guest stories and lives. This formed the basis of Havranek’s passion and led to her dream of owning her own salon that became a reality over 15 years later.

Havranek opened Golden Salon in Ferndale, Michigan in July 2022. Through her salon Havranek aims to not only provide a place for people to get their hair done, but to connect with clients, the community and improve different business elements of salons.

Before starting her business, Havranek spent time in the western part of the United States, started a family where she had two children with her husband and spent time working at various salons. When she moved back to Michigan she began looking for a new place to work and after feeling nothing was a good fit for her she decided it was the “right time” to start her own.

 

When Havranek lived in Michigan before, she went out in Ferndale and loved it. While she was looking for a location for her business she once again fell in love with Ferndale’s lively atmosphere, walkability and community. She knew it was the right fit for her business.

Havranek felt that she didn’t want her business to “just be a salon” and instead wanted to create a community that people wanted to go to and be a part of.

“There’s a salon on every single corner, there’s so many salons and they’re all so good,” Havranek said, “The people that come to us are what set us apart, they want to be there and they click with us and we just kind of become friends.”

With her business she has worked to retain a relationship with clients that goes beyond a hair appointment. Havranek plans to host monthly “pop-up” events at her business that help bring in guests, employees and clients to foster community outside of just doing hair.

Previously, Havranek welcomed people to come in to do tarot card readings, eat donuts from Franklin Cider Mill and spend time with each other. As she looks to plan other future events,  she hopes to showcase the passions and work of her clients as well.

Havranek said, “In December, I have a lot of guests that make stuff like ceramics or headbands or jewelry, so we’ll probably have some sort of shopping thing around the holidays.”

Additionally, Havranek wanted to create a business that worked to improve how the salon business is run through an environmental lens.

Havranek said, “I’ve worked in a lot of different salons and we create a lot of waste. The amount of things you put on your head [during a hair appointment] and you just take away and just typically throw in the trash is insane.”

To combat this problem, Golden Salon is certified Green Circle Salon. This creates a partnership between Green Circle and Havranek’s business in order to reduce and recycle all the waste the salon produces. Havranek said that she spends time sorting out different materials such as foil, plastic and even items that have the coloring products on it that typically are not recycled of the chemicals on it. Even the bins that the business separate the materials into are made out of the hair collected and repurposed.

As Havranek continues to develop her business with new approaches and ideas she faces challenges as a small salon in business. One aspect she finds the most challenging in running a small business is finding new employees and is continuing looking for individuals who are passionate for what they do and are a good fit for the culture of her business.

Above these challenges Havranek expressed that each day as she leaves her salon and is able to look at what she has started to build, she is so grateful and proud of being about to do what she has always wanted to do. She looks forward to continuing to share what her business has to offer the community and the relationships the community offers her.

Golden Salon is located at 215 W Troy Street in Ferndale.  Learn more at https://www.goldenanothersalon.com/.