It’s the European duo that’s taking the Australian industry by storm. Uros Mikic and Mojca Bizjak-Mikic are at the helm of Adelaide powerhouse salon Kinky Curly Straight (KCS) – 12 dedicated staff, a bevy of awards sparkling at the reception desk and a salon ethos declaring ‘the sky is not the limit’ already makes for a formidable brand. And when you add an unshakable foundation in sustainability, you know this salon means business for a long time, not just a good time.
When Sustainable Salons Australia (SSA) launched in Adelaide one month ago, Kinky Curly Straight was one of the first to join the movement. But it wasn’t the first they’d heard about the journey to zero waste.
Originally hailing from Slovenia, Uros and Mojca opened the salon just 5 years ago and from the minute they registered the business name, they were already planning ways to build an eco-friendly model.
“When we opened, sustainability and environmental consciousness was at the forefront of who we are and how we wanted to be known,” explains Mojca. “Funnily when we speak to our clients they often mention that they think of our salon first when they see anything eco/green. We are extremely proud to have been inspiring and changing peoples’ thinking about recycling, reusing and running greener work places for the last 5 years!”
The salon was the first in South Australia to swap its cotton towels and washing machine for Easydry biodegradable towels, and its regular foil for the only recycled option on the market, Refoil. On top of that, KCS runs on renewable energy, has water-saving Ecoheads installed at the basins, and Uros and Mojca were actively keeping check of the salon’s carbon emissions by paying into a renewable energy project.
Talk about green warriors! With the salon already doing its part for the ‘Planet’ and subsequently ‘Profit’ tiers of sustainability, when SSA landed, it was their opportunity to close the loop on these resources and actively engage with the community. And just one month on, it’s already having a great impact on clients.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have Sustainable Salons Australia in South Australia now,” says Mojca.
“Having the Program in place provides our salon with a full 360-degree approach in terms of recycling and reusing because it makes that loop from recycling to community support.”
“Our clients have always loved our strong eco concept and us joining the SSA program was another step in our green policies. They love hearing about how the program feeds the homeless and learning more about the different possibilities for donating hair.”
But it’s not all green chat at KCS. The brand prides itself on its ability to bring eco-awareness while delivering a strong fashion forward culture. You may have heard the salon name kicking it on the Australian awards scene almost since the day it opened, and the last couple of years have been no exception. Uros took out the Men’s Hairdresser of the Year award at Hair Expo in 2016 and recently in 2017, and hit the world stage winning the Global AIPP 2016/17 Men’s Photo Collection. Speaking of the world stage, Uros also travels the globe educating for Matrix Australia as the brand’s Creative Director. But wait, there’s more! Upcoming superstar Cherie Falco was announced the 2017 HOT SHOTS Visionary of the Year, nabbed Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year at the Australian Hair Fashion Awards in April, and then went on to win the South Australian Hairdresser of the Year and New Creative Force awards at Hair Expo recently.
So it’s not difficult to see that the salon has found its perfect balance between environmental responsibility, and creative and business success.
“For us, these go hand in hand,” says Mojca. “Green and sustainable was always going to form the backbone of our business, and in turn is one of the key drivers to our growth and clientele.”
And of course, building a truly successful brand comes from empowering a team that believes in your ethos.
“Working at KCS you get a crash course in eco policies – everything from recycling to conserving water, it’s such a big part of who we are and what we stand for. We have had many people apply for a position with us just because of our green ethos. We all inspire each other, find great new ideas and share our eco ethos with our clients, families and fellow stylists.
“Everyone at Kinky Curly Straight is so proud to be a flagship salon for the incredible SSA program in SA, and we hope to inspire consumers and salon owners alike to sign up and make a true difference in the war on waste.”
Sustainable Salons Australia provides the most comprehensive waste free systems to the professional hairdressing industry. We collect and recycle 95% of a salon’s waste and reward the salon for their recycling efforts!
Contact us here if you’d like to become a member of Sustainable Salons Australia.
