communityspotlight Kasia Organic Salon by Beth Davis D
uring her early career as a stylist, Kassandra Kuehl, owner of Kasia Orgaic Salon, an urban retreat nestled in the heart of Southwest Minneapolis, began to experience the negative health effects of the everyday use of chemicals in the salon environment. Though she had been living a healthy lifestyle, detoxifying her body and teaching others about healthy living and whole foods, she would arrive home at the end of the day “in a fog,” with intense migraine headaches. “I soon realized that the chemicals surrounding me—the same chemicals being
used by my salon mates—were making me sick,” she says. “I wondered, If the chemi- cals that built this multi-million dollar industry were making me sick, then what were they doing to the clients upon whose bodies we were placing them? After all, the skin is the body’s largest organ.”
Faced with the choice of leaving the industry forever, Kassandra Kuehl
Kuehl saw a critical need for a salon that would be safe for both the guests and the stylists. She began a journey of trial and er- ror, abundant research and advanced education, and in 2007, founded Kasia Organic Salon to offer products and services for the hair, skin and body that harness the restorative and nour- ishing properties of all-natural ingredients. Staying true to the name—Kasia means “pure” in Greek—Kuehl later worked with chemists to develop Kasia Organics, a line of natural beauty and lifestyle products—including skin care, hair care, natural
deodorant, non-toxic sunscreen, fair trade tea and more—that feature only pure and plant-based ingredients and assist a range of hair and skin types and conditions. Kuehl states that she sources ingredients and develops products that work syner- gistically with the body, supporting the hair and skin’s cellular function and delivering exceptional performance. “We look to the future and see the importance of protecting our guests of chemicals in services and personal care products like parabens, phthal- ates and artificial fragrance that are found to be causing health problems like hormonal imbalances, disease, fatigue and topical skin issues,” she explains. The top service at the salon is the ammonia-free hair color, the safest that Kuehl has found on the professional market. She says that the color is not only ammonia-free, but also free of paraphenylenediamine (PPD) and the harmful carcinogens found in many other hair color products, and free of other toxins and fillers linked to myriad health concerns. What the color does contain is organic ingredients, higher quality dyes, antioxidants and vitamins that leave the hair softer, healthier and more vibrant. “We offer a space where anyone can walk in and trust that we review all prod- ucts and services to assure the guest that we are committed to our mission and vision,” Kuehl notes. “This is the reason we formulate our own products to assure ingredient integrity, a luxurious experience and lasting results for the hair, skin and body.” Over the years, Kuehl has become not only an entrepreneur and expert stylist, but also a passionate advocate for natural health and beauty care. She has gained experi- ence through being a personal trainer, yoga and Pilates instructor, functional medicine student, certified health coach and living foods educator—a background that has al- lowed her to add a rich dimension of experience for every client that visits Kasia.
“I am better able to consult on topics
beyond just a flattering hairstyle and color, such as how to cultivate beautiful hair from the inside out with proper nutrition and supplementation,” explains Kuehl. “I firmly believe that true beauty is syn- onymous with health and that hair-care products and services ought to preserve the quality of our hair, not destroy it. It is this conviction that makes us different from other salons, and pervades through every aspect of Kasia Organic Salon.” Kuehl says that much of her inspira- tion comes from the lessons she learned from her late brother, Kelsey, as he battled cancer. “Throughout his illness, he never let the smile leave his face and always practiced sincere courtesy and kindness toward everyone around him,” Kuehl re- calls. “He inspired me to look for answers and connections and to create meaning- ful relationships with all whom I meet. Most of all, he persevered and fought for himself with optimism and gusto, despite the reality that surrounded him.” Through her experience, Kuehl real- ized the importance of offering a chemi- cal-free option with a holistic viewpoint to clients and helping them learn about the connection between what they put in and on their bodies and their health. It inspired her mission to create a different way to achieve beauty, a way that doesn’t abide by the industry’s unspoken “beauty at any cost” mantra.
She and her staff approach each cli- ent with a holistic view that offers women nutrient-dense products with long-term results and mindful services so they can achieve their beauty and style goals, while supporting—not sacrificing—their health in the process. “Today, through Kasia Organic Salon, I am providing a new phi- losophy of providing beauty services that go well beyond the ‘above-the-shoulders’ makeover,” Kuehl says. “We cherish and value the relationships with our clients that are more than skin-deep. And, I per- sonally like knowing that I can combine my passions and values to help women learn new ways to make positive changes in their lives.”
Kasia Organic Salon is located at 822 West 50th St., Minneapolis. For more information, call 612-824-7611 or visit
KasiaOrganicSalon.com. See ad on page 11.
natural awakenings November 2012 15
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