i love my shop
JANE WEI RUNS POOCH-FRIENDLY HAIR SALON A LOFT STORY IN SYDNEY’S INNER-WEST.
Where is it? 36 Lennox Street, Newtown, Sydney.
Describe A Loft Story in a sentence. A multi-functional, urban jungle creative space combining hairdressing, artist workshops and live music performances.
What goes on there? Tuesday to Saturday, we’re a busy hair salon doing a lot of fashion colour and hair transformations! People travel from interstate to achieve their platinum hair dreams. On Sunday and Monday, we hire out the space for press launches, photoshoots and art exhibitions. We’ve even had pop-up cafés in summertime, and we’re currently hosting some intimate live concerts.
How did the idea come about? My dream has always been to deliver a unique hair salon experience from the moment the customer walks in till the moment they leave with incredible hair! I wanted people to relax into a special place, with amazing plants and transformative energy. The concept has been evolving over time as people share ideas and collaborate. Tell us a bit about the space. I started with an empty old warehouse. Now, it’s a bright haven filled with beautiful greenery, collected antiques, cool music and amazing customers, plus my team of passionate hairdressers. My favourite part is the plants; it’s so rewarding to see them growing every day. I’ve sourced everything from local markets, nurseries and suppliers, and even designed some of the furniture using recycled timber, with the help of a local carpenter!
Coolest thing that’s happened there so far? Our edible terrarium workshop with Katherine Sabbath was so much fun!
We hear the salon is dog-friendly? I love dogs, and have always wanted one of my own. It’s really nice to spend time with your pet while getting your hair done – the dogs usually just hang with their owners, other customers and the staff, which everyone enjoys. The dog-friendly Camperdown Park is across the road, too, which is a real bonus for the owners. We have an Instagram account specially for our dog visitors: @d ogsofaloftstory.
What is your best tip for top-notch hair care? Treat your hair like your skin – use salon professional products that suit your hair type. Get regular trims every six weeks, and sleep on a silk satin pillowcase to minimise frizz when you wake up!
What do you love about what you do? I feel very lucky that I’m able to bring all my passions together in my business, sharing other creative parts of me with my clients. I love seeing people leave with their hair dreams fulfilled; it’s great to see their confidence soaring right before my eyes!
Any plans for the future? To expand my team of hairdressers, and start a Youtube channel to educate our clients with hair tutorials. I’d also really like to explore more collaborations, photoshoots, workshops and gigs in the salon. I love showcasing our space and showing clients what the inner-west has to offer.