This month, our OWAY Stylist Spotlight is on Maren McKenna of Verde Salon in Chandler, AZ. Maren keeps on surprising us with her killer balayage skills on social media and rightfully deserves a spot in our list of holistic hairstylists to follow. Below she shares with us her go-to OWAY products and why she chose the organic way of life.
Don’t forget to check out some of her amazing work at the bottom!
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
Who inspires you in your life and why?
My father is my biggest inspiration in life. He’s always striving to improve not only as a person, but at life as well! I can honestly say I’ve never seen anyone make so many self-improvements. As I’ve watched my parents journey through life, they remind me most that as much as life knocks you down, you can make it through anything as long as you keep persevering. He’s the best.
What are some ways you market yourself?
When it comes to marketing, I have been very fortunate to work for a salon that speaks for itself. Verde Salon is an all-organic salon, that once people find out, they can’t stay away. Working with organic color and products is a huge gift. I believe we are at the forefront of the hair industry and hopefully, all hair products will head in this direction. I’ve also been spending a significant time building my Instagram page to showcase my work. This is how I’ve found some of my favorite artists, and learn lots of tips and tricks from them!
What suggestions do you give your clients before leaving your chair on home care etc.?
I’ve found that when I use products I’m passionate about such as OWAY, my clients see that and trust my recommendations implicitly. I personally use OWAY at home and share that with my clients as well (My hair is actually long again! Hooray!). I always recommend shampoo and conditioner to insure their color lasts and stays vibrant and shiny, particularly the Color Protection line. Styling products sell themselves once I use them in their hair.
What OWAY product is your favorite and who do you primarily use it for?
My favorite OWAY product? There are too many! Glossy Nectar first and foremost. I use it on pretty much every client. I love that it cuts down on drying time pre-blow dry and I love finishing with it to tame fly aways and add some glorious shine! Flux Potion is a close second. I love the lightweight hold and volume it creates. It makes my clients hair feel thicker without that “too much product” feeling. The third is probably the Bio-Rich Water because what’s not to love! I use it as a cutting lotion on every client because I love the fragrance and the added benefits I get from all those essential oils. I tell my clients it’s like vitamins for their hair.
Do you have a go-to formula?
My favorite OWAY formula…this is a tough one as I’ve become so fond of the whole line! I must say I really like breaking the base with the 90 series. Using 90.2/90.11 double 40 vol for no more than five minutes (to avoid exposing too much warmth) is a go-to for me. The mixed tones are wonderful too! I like mixing them together especially for rich lowlights, and I love the 6.62. I try to use it whenever I can.
If you were to travel anywhere in the world, where would that be and why?
If I could travel anywhere, it would probably be back to Ireland. I was fortunate enough to go on a family vacation back in 2007 to learn about my family’s heritage. We learned that the McKennas still reside in Northern Ireland! I fell in love with the miles of rolling green hills and the friendly people. I would love to go back and experience more of it one day. I wouldn’t say no to getting married there either.
Words of wisdom on converting to a Holistic brand and way of life?
Living a more natural way of life is still something I’m striving to get better at day by day. I’m learning to be more aware of what I eat and about the products I use on my body. I must say being more conscious of these things makes me feel better than I ever have. Working with organic hair care is a true gift and is the only way I plan to do hair as I continue with my career. I’m very grateful that I found it early on as a stylist. The great thing about OWAY is that it’s not only a natural, more gentle color line, but it supersedes traditional color lines in my opinion. I always get questions about it, like does it last as long, does it work as well, etc. — the answer is most definitely YES!
Check out Maren's work with OWAY!
