You might say Janet St. Paul has a ringside seat to the growth and changes taking place at a rapid clip in Austin. Her chic and welcoming salon on West 3rd Street, Janet St. Paul Studio for Hair, is in the epicenter of a downtown that seems to see a new groundbreaking each week.
St. Paul herself has been part of that growth. After living in New York City for 16 years and working her way to what could only be described as a stellar career that earned her a reputation as one of the city’s top stylists, she and her partner decided it was time for a change.
Although they opened up the new salon during the economic downturn, it didn’t take long for word of mouth to go around, making her one of the most coveted and awarded stylists in Austin.
“You have to have faith that it will all work out, and you have to keep moving forward,” she said of the salon’s start in 2011. “You have to strive for excellence – how could something not come of that?”
It’s not hard to see why in three short years her salon has become one of the go-to places for savvy clients. The hair styling is, obviously, one aspect of that stellar reputation. Her stylists do in-house training once a week and also go back to New York City a few times a year for training, and it shows. St. Paul and the stylists she works with strive to give clients cuts and color that are perfect for their face and their lifestyle – as St. Paul puts it, it’s like having a shirt custom-tailored, only it’s your hairstyle.
Janet St. Paul, Photo by Casey Chapman Ross
But beyond the styling, the salon itself has a warm draw. Elegantly worn French-style furniture is balanced with more modern touches like rough wood paneling for a beautiful and comfortable space. And St. Paul herself lends a lot to the space, personally seeing after waiting customers by taking coats and offering beverages.
St. Paul doesn’t reserve that level of care for only her clients, either. One of the reasons she and her partner, Tracy Smith, loved Austin when they first visited was its sense of community. That’s something St. Paul is working hard to contribute to. The salon has worked with clients of Lifeworks and with the Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC). She has donated styling and makeovers to Lifeworks clients and in December will do a “month of giving” during which the salon, and hopefully its clients, will donate to Lifeworks.
During October the salon raised money for BCRC, did in-salon events, and partnered with a jewelry designer to sell necklaces, the proceeds of which went completely to the BCRC.
“I feel passionate about giving back to the community,” St. Paul said. “I have no idea how I got so lucky. And I feel like if you’re in a place where you’re grateful for what you have, more will come, and if you don’t pay that forward in a big way, that’s not being in that grateful space.”
Along with the kind nature, sunny days, and close-knit community, another aspect of Austin that St. Paul noticed right away was its growth. In the three years she’s been running the salon, she’s already seen her new hometown go through some changes.
Janet St. Paul, Photo by Casey Chapman Ross
“One of the changes I’ve seen in Austin is the huge diversity in who patrons are. They’re coming more from coastal markets, or from larger Texas cities. In the past year and a half I’ve noticed a ton of people from Houston, New York, and California. It makes for a more discriminating client – and I say that not to sound snobby, but when you bring people from coastal markets, they have a wider expanse of perspective and experience. And I think for the city itself, we’re so fortunate to have growth in this market.”
St. Paul has her own plans for growth. She’s keeping an eye out for a larger downtown home that could allow the salon to do more for clients and maybe include some retail.
“For me in life, whether it’s your business or personal growth, if you’re not evolving and moving forward, algae starts growing,” St. Paul said. “That doesn’t mean becoming huge – my idea is never to become a ginormous place – but if you’re not constantly evaluating yourself, you won’t have longevity and sustainability, and that’s what Austin is so good at. We’re lucky here.”
Janet St. Paul Studio for Hair
512-474-5000
830 W 3rd St Ste 1136, Austin, TX 78701
janetstpaul.com
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