Today we’d like to introduce you to Casey Lewis.
Hi Casey, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Thank you. I feel delighted to be here. I am a white, bisexual, cis woman. I feel most free when I’m dancing and most grounded when I sing. I’m a mother, daughter, wife, seeker and leader.
I have been working behind the chair as a hairstylist for 22 years now and I’ve been an entrepreneur since 2006.
In 2011, my husband Danny and I created Willow Room. It started with an idea to create an eco-friendly salon that nurtured hearts and hair. He designed and built all of our furniture from local reclaimed lumber, and I began tending to my community in a really special space that held so much room to grow.
Since then, Willow has evolved into a conscious beauty collective, dedicated to creating healing beauty experiences for our community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life is not smooth, but my journey has been blessed. I believe my biggest struggle has been my relationship with self-love and acceptance. This struggle has led me to suppress my voice, deny my deepest desires, question my intuition and it shaped the way I led for years.
My radical self-acceptance journey has been messy and beautiful. I used to filter myself for fear of loss and rejection. I have experienced both and survived. I hold an inexpressible amount of gratitude for all of the experiences that’ve led me to understand, love, and trust myself the way that I do today.
It is not always easy, but I’ve learned that when I listen to my own wisdom and choose what is true for me, even the struggles soften.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Willow is a conscious beauty collective dedicated to community care, support and healing. In addition to offering eco-friendly salon services, our team is trauma-informed and offers energetic support like Reiki, Polarity Therapy, Reflexology, Cranial sacral Therapy and massage.
We aim to minimize harm, and liberate ourselves from toxic societal norms.
All of this shapes the way we do business.
We offer somatic dance, yoga, meditation, sound, and tea ceremonies in our studio and we collaborate with other guides in community care & the salon industry to empower ourselves and one another.
Our pricing structure is based on time, not gender and we do not expect or accept gratuity. Why no gratuity? One, it’s rooted in racism, sexism, and classism . This structure also allows our team to determine the value of their work rather than relying on others to determine it for them. Since wellbeing is foundational to Willow, we do not double book our appointments. This allows our team to avoid burnout, creates a calmer environment and makes space to amplify our creativity.
We believe that inclusion is integral to a healthy and vibrant community. At Willow, we’re committed to seeking education and implementing non-oppressive practices that welcome all communities.
Our team’s regular education includes Trauma Sensitive Care, Anti Racism Awareness, and LGBTQ+ Inclusion.
Our team’s skills are diverse and our education includes all textures of hair.
We are Dress Code Project alliance members, creating gender-affirming salon experiences for our community. And our partnership with Green Circle Salons, enables us to recycle 95% of salon waste.
What matters most to you?
My relationship to myself is the most important to me. I understand that how I show up for myself directly affects how I show up for my family, business, and community. The more internal work I do, my capacity to lead from an emotionally intelligent place grows. And when I lead from this place, my leadership is more impactful and my team’s growth is greater.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.willowroomsalon.com
- Instagram: willowroomsalon
Image Credits
Thomas & Thomas Photography
