Ametrine!

No way! A totally vegan salon? I have to see this to believe it! 

I arrived on a sunny Wednesday morning in December. It was a beautiful warm day. I was greeted at the door by Kat Blamey. Kat is the owner of Ametrine Salon. Ametrine is the only vegan salon in the Denver area. I was referred to the salon by Vanessa Gochnour, at Nooch Vegan Market. Kat greeted me with a friendly smile and an offer of hot chocolate. Don't you love when you don't have to ask, "is it vegan?" I do. She set about making me hot chocolate (with mini marshmallows no less) while I took some pictures and  looked around. This is a charming little shop in a very convenient downtown location.

Hot Chocolate and delicious homemade cookies greet you at Ametrine Salon in Denver!

Hot chocolate in hand, I asked Kat how long she had been vegan. Almost five years, she told me. Before that, she ate a typical American diet. In her mid twenties, she was at a crossroads career-wise, not sure if she wanted to style hair or continue on as a barista. Her wallet was a little on the light side. She considered how to make her money go a little further when buying food. At first limiting dairy and only buying meat on occasion. Then becoming a vegetarian. Well, if being vegetarian was cheaper, imagine how much better being vegan would be financially and morally. She sat down and watched Forks over Knives, Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead and Vegucated. She began to make the transition to a vegan diet. Most people assume being vegan is more expensive, but that is not necessarily true, Kat explained. Food can be as expensive as you want it to be,  depending on what ingredients you use. Rice and beans, veggies, and tofu are all inexpensive and nutritious. You have to choose your priorities. 

Kat Blamey is the owner and stylist at Ametrine Salon.

Now, let's talk about hair. Did you always want to be a hairstylist? She could not answer that definitively. As a kid, Kat was always involved in art, but she also loved science. Her parents both felt very strongly that Kat should go to college. She was unsure, but eventually decided to attend the School of Visual Arts for Photography (a good blend of art and science). After a year and a half, Kat decided to try a new path. Not wanting to be burdened with overwhelming debt, she dropped out of school and found a job as a barista. She found she really loved latte art and making drinks for people. Eventually, managing the coffee shop right up until she moved to Denver about 9 1/2 years ago. 

Once in Colorado, Kat's hairdresser suggested she consider hairdressing school. She signed up the following week. Kat got lucky with an amazing internship. Her mentor had worked with Tony and Guy Salons and American Crew back in the 90's. Kat learned a ton! She was the only receptionist. When she asked for a raise, her mentor agreed, but only if she took on more responsibilities. She shampooed all the clients, shadowed the stylist, checked out clients, ordered and organized all the product, she did laundry and washed dishes. Kat wanted to learn how to run a business, and she did. She also learned valuable techniques. It was an unbelievable opportunity. After about a year,  no longer interested in living in Boulder,  she made the move to Denver eventually opening Ametrine Salon. 

So, who is your typical customer? Women in their 30s and 40s, making decent money. They can afford to prioritize a good hair style and quality products. The majority are plant based or vegan and have a very strong anti-cruelty stance. They want products that contain more organic and bio-dynamic ingredients. They demand Fair trade. 

Only two stations make for a more intimate setting for Kat and her clients.

Keeping her customers hair needs and ethical standards in mind, Kat chose Oway products. Oway is an Italian brand that has been around for about 15 years. The products are all organic and they use bio-dynamically grown herbs. Colors and highlights are available. The color is vegan and ammonia free. No smell. This is great for people with sensitivity. The products are low in PPDs and PTDs, which are found in all hair colors, but are lower in Oway. They use lots of essential oils and  good emollient ingredients such as coconut oil, macadamia nut oil and shea butter. These add strength to the hair and heal the scalp. Oway is a truly holistic line treating the rest of the holistic triad (body and soul). Kat loves the company so much, she became an educator for them after using products for only 6 months. She offers permanent and demi-permanent colors, as well as gray blending. Everything smells amazing! They come in brown bottles, which are recyclable or refillable, or fully recyclable aluminum tubes. 

When I asked Kat where she sees herself in 10 years, she hesitated. She prefers to live her life one day at a time. However, she did concede that she would like to move to a slightly larger space in the next year to two. Maybe adding a couple more chairs, giving customers more options. This would also include a full espresso station, and maybe a boutique. She would also like to open the salon to community events, such as Sunday Yoga, Pop Ups, Community Drop In, or other donation based events. It is important for Kat to offer her clients enough space for privacy, but a comfortable welcoming feeling as well. 

Ametrine is combination of Amethyst and Citrine. This is a welcome power stone, great for positivity and getting rid of negativity. At this moment Kat gives me a piece of Ametrine. All new clients get a piece to take with them. The stone comes from a mine in Bolivia. It is just a  little remember me by.. Then, Kat said something that stuck with me...

"A sweater is just a sweater, until it is your favorite sweater."

It is all about Intention. 

What a pleasure it was to meet with Kat. She is so conscientious about styling hair and the products she uses and most of all her customers. She goes above and beyond to make sure people get what they want, not only physically but mentally as well.

I decided to hold off posting this article until I had a chance to visit the salon for an appointment. I scheduled online and received followup emails to confirm, as well as a personal text from Kat confirming. I really appreciated that. It was just Kat and myself for 2 hours, chatting while she worked. I really enjoyed my appointment, and look forward to my next visit.