Behind the Business – Moonstone Hair Studio
Moonstone Hair Studio is located at 2813 St-Joseph Boulevard in the Heart of Orléans BIA. This tiny bungalow measuring only 3.5 by 4.5 meters was once a jewelry store back In 1955, Eventually this little gem was home to several barber shops and hair salons and now has become the perfect home to a holistic, eco-conscious hair salon; Moonstone Hair Studio.
Moonstone’s owner, Mélissa Dignard, grew up in Vars and her mom would often bring Melissa and her sisters shopping at Place d’Orléans mall. From a very young age, Mélissa recognized that good things often come in small packages! Whenever they passed by this small little bungalow, which housed a hair salon at the time, Mélissa pointed out how adorable it was and announced that if she were to own a salon when she grew up, this would be the spot! Fast forward to today, and here she is rocking this location in the BIA!
In August of 2020, right in the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Mélissa transformed this cute little bungalow into an eco-conscience space with safe, non toxic services. This holistic hair retreat offers non-toxic, cruelty-free and naturally based hair products and hair coloring services.
After being diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease in 2012, Mélissa had to adopt a clean, healthy lifestyle. This inspired her to create a safe workplace as well. “Forget the ammonia-filled salon air and the loud 10 chair salons”, she says. Enjoy a safe one on one multi-sensory, spa experience instead!
Mélissa is truly passionate about our environment. She not only works with eco-conscious companies, but her salon is Green Circle Certified. In other words, she recycles up to 95% of the salon’s waste! Impressive!
When asked if she would recommend the Heart of Orléans to others looking for a location for their business. She replied, “Absolutely! The clients are absolute gems and the BIA has helped us tremendously as a new business.”
Opening a new business is often difficult but opening in the middle of a pandemic some would say is downright crazy! For Mélissa, this just meant she needed to get creative. She started offering At Home Hair Kits such as Root Touch Up Kits & Toner Kits. She also opened an online retail store selling luxury hair care and offering free local deliveries! With her innovative concept, her clients can now order their favorite cruelty-free products from the comfort of their homes and get it delivered right to their doors. Although Moonstone Hair Studio was a new business in 2020, they started growing immediately – even during lockdowns. Luckily for us, Melissa has also renewed her lease and The Heart of Orléans will be her home for another 3 years! Be sure to stop in and say hi if you’re strolling down the boulevard!
Please see our complete BIA Faces of Business Album here.
