From Sandton to Salt Rock

Walk into Sage Centre in Salt Rock on any given morning, and you will feel it before you can name it: the buzz of women meeting for coffee at Mimosa, the hum of small businesses opening their doors, most of them woman-owned and run. It is fitting, then, that this is where Jena Morgan chose to open her second salon.

When the space at Sage came up, she did not hesitate. Demand had been building for a while, a steady wave of new clients relocating from Johannesburg and settling into the estates along the North Coast: Zululami, Seaton, and Simbithi. They needed a salon close to home, and Jena Morgan Hair Studio was ready to meet them there.

It is the next chapter for a brand that has already made its mark. Jena Morgan Hair Studio opened its doors in Ballito four years ago, and in that short time, Jena has been named Best of Ballito twice in the last three years; no small feat in a competitive industry. Before Ballito, Jena spent a decade as a master stylist at Franco International in Sandton, the kind of grounding that shows in every appointment. Her right hand, Natasha Maroney, shares that same Franco pedigree, having also spent many years there before joining Jena on the coast.

Now, with two salons under her name, Jena shares her insight on the new space at Sage, the growth of the brand, and what it means to lead a team of stylists in an industry she has given her whole career to.

The New Space at Sage
We decided to go with an all-white, fresh look for the space, with high ceilings. It gives us a blank canvas and allows our suppliers, like Kérastase and Redken, to make a statement. We wanted the products and the work to be the colour in the room, not the walls.

Why Now?

Jena Morgan Hair opened its doors four years ago, and we’ve since won Best of Ballito two out of the last three years. Ballito and Salt Rock grew incredibly fast, and demand was calling. When the Sage space became available, it felt like the right move at the right time, close to where so many of our clients now live.

What’s New?
Hair, like fashion, is constantly changing, and the way we do things now is completely different from a few years ago. Hair health comes first; that’s why we’re one of the few salons in the area to use and retail premium, professional-grade products in-store, like Kérastase, Olaplex, Brazilian Blowout and Davines. I’m known as the blonde specialist, but I’m just as passionate about restoring hair that’s been damaged; bringing it back to health is some of the most rewarding work we do.

Meet the Team
Both salons are run by women. Natasha heads up the Ballito salon, while I am now based at Sage, though I also move between both to make sure every client is looked after. Between the two salons, four of the six stylists are qualified master stylists and educators, and I have ensured that the same level of expertise is present across both spaces. So wherever a client sits, whether it’s for highlights, colour, or a pixie cut, they’re in equally capable hands.

A Woman-Led Salon, in Women’s Month
What sets us apart from other salons in the area is passion, for hair and for the relationship we build with our clients. After a busy day, I’ll spend the evening making sure I’m ready for the next one and looking at new techniques and ideas online. Education is at the heart of what I do. You can never stop learning or improving your craft. With the reach of social media, stylists can pick up new techniques quickly and use them to serve whatever a client needs.
If three words define Jena, they’d be: passion, education and excellence.

Contact Details:
Tel: 087 711 2015

Facebook: Jena Morgan Hair Studio

Instagram: jenamorganhair