INTERVIEW WITH MICHELLE SNYDER: What are you carrying into March?

Tell us the story of how Barrow Salon came to be. What inspired you to start it

I opened BARROW Salon in May 2012 — which still feels slightly unbelievable to say out loud.

Owning a salon was never part of some grand master plan. I had just had my daughter, River, and was in that foggy, beautiful, survival-mode chapter of life when my then-partner found a space and casually said, “You should open a salon.” As one does with a six-month-old attached to their body!

I had recently moved back from New York and couldn’t quite find a salon that felt like home. Nothing was the right fit. So, in a moment of either clarity or sleep deprivation, I decided to build the place I’d been looking for myself.

Starting a business with an infant in tow is not something I necessarily recommend — but it does make you decisive. Between feedings, paint swatches, shampoo bowls, and business licenses, BARROW came to life. It was scrappy and heartfelt and a little bit wild, which, in many ways, it still is.

This May, we celebrate 14 years. Fourteen years of different hair eras, incredible clients, staff who became family, trips, parties, reinventions, and a global pandemic that tested everything we thought we knew. Through all the twists and turns, we’ve grown up.

Today, we’ve landed in a beautiful space in the Dogpatch after many years in  downtown San Francisco . The scenery has changed, but the heart hasn’t. BARROW has always been about creating a place that feels like home … for our team, for our clients, and for me.

I didn’t set out to own a salon. But I’m deeply grateful I fell into it.

What lessons have you learned along your journey as a founder, especially the ones you didn't expect at the start?

I naively thought I’d just open the doors, cut great hair, create a beautiful space, and work alongside people I loved and deeply respected for their talent. That, in my mind, was the whole job.

What I didn’t fully anticipate was… the business of it all. The managing. The numbers. The decisions. The things no one really glamorizes when you imagine owning a salon.

But honestly….That unexpected side has been one of the biggest gifts.

I’ve learned more lessons than I can count. I’ve watched myself grow up in ways I didn’t know I needed to. I’ve found belief in myself,  especially in the business-owner part of the hair world that used to completely freak me out. It’s been surprisingly fun to meet that version of myself and realize I can handle more than I  thought.

And through every version of our team.. every combination of personalities and talents over the years. I’ve been incredibly lucky.

As a hairstylist, you have this unique gift of making people feel truly seen and beautiful — how has that shaped the way you lead and create the culture at Barrow?

This is truly my favorite part of the job!

I love helping people see and feel their beauty..  inside and out. I love the connection that happens in the chair. The conversations, the trust, the little shifts that happen when someone stands up and sees themselves a bit differently.

What means the most to me is that all kinds of people can walk into BARROW .. a high-end salon in San Francisco.. and feel like they belong there. That it’s beautiful and elevated, yes, but never intimidating. I try to shape that by leading by example. Everyone who walks through our doors receives the same thoughtful, professional, high-end service. Period.

I’m really proud of the culture we’ve cultivated. It feels inclusive and intentional and special. People from all walks of life can come in, feel taken care of, and leave with a haircut that not only looks great but actually works for their real life.

I feel incredibly lucky to have such a strong team beside me , people who genuinely share those values and help bring that vision to life every single day. It’s really very magical. 

Is there a daily ritual you return to?

I’m not good at remembering to do something every day but when I think about this question what comes to mind is how much I love cooking for my friends and family and being around a table together so I suppose that it’s a ritual I return to frequently. Oh also my monastery red light mask!

As you step into March, what story are you carrying forward?

I always try and carry with me a reminder to keep learning and listening.