By Kathy Henderson
When the Park Bugle’s interview of cosmetologist Brook Carl appeared last January, she was just about to launch her new hair styling shop in the former Theresa’s Hair location on Energy Park Drive.
When asked at the end of 2022 what’s changed, Carl enthusiastically replied, “Everything!”
Significantly, the shop now has a name — The Green Room — the interior has been remodeled (took until April), online appointment booking is active; and two experienced stylists and one manicurist/pedicurist have joined Carl.
She welcomed stylist Rebecca McAtte in June and stylist Deb Anderson in July. Mary Thao brought her “Manicare by Mary” manicure and pedicure skills to The Green Room in October.
The shop’s name, The Green Room, reflects Carl’s theatrical background from when she worked in the Guthrie Theater’s costume shop and for Minnesota-based VEE Corp of “Sesame Street Live” fame (now VStar Entertainment).
“In the theater,” Carl explained, “everyone gathers, everything happens in the Green Room before going on stage.” And that’s why you’ll see Carl’s descriptive tagline — “The world’s a stage — get ready for it here.” — displayed on her website and in her shop.
Although The Green Room is a new business, Carl said it doesn’t feel like a brand-new business because she has been an independent stylist renting her own chair at other locations for the past nine years. For example, her regular clients followed her to The Green Room from her former location at Phenix Salon Suites in Roseville.
“I love my clients,” she said. “We have a great business partnership. I tend to be booked 10-12 weeks in advance.”
While The Green Room’s name reflects the essence of backstage preparation and energy before a performance, the Davines product line displayed in the shop’s entry area champions sustainability from production facilities in Italy to the potential of consumer upcycling (reusing the decorative product boxes for storing jewelry or office supplies, etc.). Its colorful boxes feature bright artwork and lines from multicultural poetry and literature.
“It’s a boutique brand. Think of them like the Italian version of Aveda,” Carl said. “I’ve carried this brand for four or five years. And their products work,” she emphasized.
What you won’t see at The Green Room is a shop receptionist; and what you won’t hear are phones ringing. Appointments are booked online at thegreenroom.salon.
Online appointments make sense functionally and economically and provide better customer service, Carl said. Clients can book appointments 24/7. No one’s work is interrupted to answer the phone. No one needs to leave a message and then get a return phone call late in the evening. Plus, there is even a wait-list feature that Carl can access when a previously scheduled appointment must be cancelled due to illness or other unavoidable situations.
Entering the New Year, Carl’s winter weather hair advice is that depending upon your hair’s texture, you may not need to wash your hair as frequently as you normally do.
“Don’t overwork it,” she cautions. Every few days or once a week may be enough.
Brook Carl gives client a haircut.
Photo by Kathy Henderson.
Kathy Henderson lives in St. Paul and is a Twin Cities freelance writer.
