Stanford Hair, a campus business once on the verge of closing, has reopened under new ownership. After a 20-month shutdown and years of decline, the salon’s new team aim to maintain traditions while expanding services. 

Before the pandemic, Stanford Hair employed six full-time stylists and served generations of community members. The University moved to sell the space after former owner Carmelo Cogliandro, who owned the salon for over 60 years, faced personal hardships. That’s when Brian Kleis, a longtime community member who taught at the School of Medicine in the 1990s and served as a Resident Fellow (RF) at Arroyo, stepped in.

In an email to The Daily, Kleis wrote that he decided to buy the space because of the salon’s history. He said he was inspired by alumni returning to campus during Homecoming weekend who told him stories of getting haircuts there in the 1960s and ’70s. Patrons over the decades have included Jimmy Carter, football coach Jim Harbaugh and several Stanford presidents.

Kleis first learned the salon would close during a visit in June. Only one stylist remained, working two half-days per week. Essential services such as telephone and internet were lacking and the business had no functioning booking system.

“When I heard that Stanford Hair was going to close, something sparked in me to see if I could keep it alive,” Kleis wrote. “The salon doesn’t represent a profit stream. What it does represent is a place that helps us cope with the world around us.”

Kleis hopes to modernize and expand the service menu.

“I want it to become a full-service salon that offers a wide range of services for every hair type, including blow outs, natural hair care, braiding, coloring, and keratin treatments,” he wrote. “Although haircuts remain our main service, our goal is to show the campus community that we are inclusive and dedicated to serving everyone.”

Since reopening, the salon has collected more than twenty-five 5-star reviews. At first, many customers were initially skeptical because of past negative reviews, but praised the new staff and expanded services.

“I think I may have found my go-to spot,” one reviewer wrote.

Stylists were drawn to the relaunch because of Kleis’ commitment to the salon’s history and mission.

“In meeting Brian, I really liked how important it was to him to be able to save an important part of the Stanford community that has had such a rich history,” said David Quintana-Mueting, one of the salon’s master stylists. “Brian was very sweet, kind and easy to talk to. His drive, ambition and excitement to open something he had no experience in, all because he has a heart big enough to want to save the Salon, felt motivational and infectious.” 

He said the mission of the salon resonated with his own values.

“Doing hair is something that has been more than just a job for me,” Quintana-Mueting said. “It is a passion and gift I have that has the power to change the world.”

Nikki Sheppard, who leads natural hair services, shared a similar impression.

“First impressions were that the new owner had a passion for helping keep the salon alive,” Sheppard said. “I felt that he was willing to take a chance on the salon and being picked to help rebuild its clientele was an honor.”

She said rebuilding after the pandemic felt significant: “It’s hard to rebuild but I’m up for the challenge.”

Kleis added that physical updates were part of the reopening process.

“We moved two of the styling stations to open the space up more,” he wrote. “We got rid of old equipment and did a major clean-out.”

One challenge Kleis identified was promoting the salon’s services to all of campus.

“One of the main challenges in re-opening has been spreading the news effectively,” he said. “[But] I want the clients to be happy with their services and for the stylists to look forward to coming to work each day, which is hard to come by in the post-pandemic salon industry.”