Meet Courtney Olson of Boutique Noir Salon in Magnificent Mile

Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Olson.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Old Hollywood glamour and a passion for all things beauty are what inspired Boutique Noir Salon. Myself, Courtney Olson, and business partner Leana Marie took our 24 combined years of behind the chair experience, and launched our flagship location in the Woodfield area of Schaumburg in November 2013. The Magnificent Mile in Chicago is the home of our second location, added in January of 2015 with addition of business partner Lauren Lampa and stylist Stephanie Bloom. I started in the industry 17 years ago in Southern California before moving to Chicago and working at Red 7 Salon alongside of Lauren (formerly at Joseph Michael) and Stephanie (educator for Kevin Murphy), while Leana was at Symmetry in LaGrange Park. Boutique Noir welcomes men, women, and children offering cutting, color and color correction, blow dry styling, smoothing treatments, extensions, and bridal & special occasion styling. Our colorists use Wella, Redken, and Pravana hair color lines and our Chicago team exclusively works with the Kevin.Murphy hair care and styling line.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
After working as an independent stylist for 10 years in Southern Califonia, relocating to Chicago and building a brand new clientele was a huge change for me. Luckily, the rebuilding process went beautifully and before long I was ready for a new challenge of going back out on my own.  Branching off to start a business with friends was one of the most challenging decisions I’ve made and quickly became the best and most rewarding choice yet! More work than you ever expect goes into launching a business. Analyzing every decision hoping it is the best for yourself, your business partners,  amd most importantly your clients. Each of us had individual struggles leaving our former salon homes, but opening Boutique Noir moved smoothly and before we knew it,  we were all home again.  This is only the beginning for us and I am looking very forward to what the future holds!

Boutique Noir Salon – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Boutique Noir Salon is a full-service hair salon offering cutting, color and special occasion styling. Each stylist specializes in their own passion as well. Courtney Olson: color/color correction, Lauren Lampa: extensions, Leana Marie: special occasion styling, Stephanie Bloom: men’s & women’s cutting as well as Kevin.Murphy education. Recognizing every client individual personal style and creating a look unique to them is a very important part of our craft. Each of us are unique in our individual styles, personalities, and backgrounds as stylists. We make a point to connect with each guest, recognize their individuality, and have them leave feeling their most beautiful and confident both inside and out.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Over the past 17 years in the industry,  I have shared a lot of fun times with clients and experienced life changing moments when you realize how big of an impact you have on people. That for me is one of the things that is the most special to me….we sometimes don’t realize how important we are, how something small can turn a bad day into an amazing one for someone.  We each have those standout moments that remind us how much we love our jobs. Making the leap to open our business, having only ourselves and the skills of our craft to depend on, and watching it successfully blossom over the years has been one of our proudest moments. It all circles back to that moment,  that connection,  that compassion we have for each person who sits in our chairs to give them the very best.

Pricing:

• Women’s Hair Cut starting at $75
• Men’s Hair Cut starting at $50
• Single Process Color starting at $95
• Highlighting/Balayage starting at $130
• Special Occasion Styling starting at $85

Contact Info:

• Address: Mag Mile: 100 E Walton St, Suite 119 (inside of Phenix Salon Suites)
  Chicago, IL 60611
  Schaumburg: 530 E Golf Rd, Suite 117 (inside of Phenix Salon Suites)
  Schaumburg, IL 60173
• Website: http://www.boutiquenoirsalon.com/
• Phone: (630) 347-2507
• Email: info@boutiquenoirsalon.com
• Instagram: BoutiqueNoirSalon
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoutiqueNoirSalon/
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/courtney.o.hair.5

   
Image Credit:
Lauren Fallon with Honeybrown Photography
Aaron M White Photography

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