Q: How long have you been involved in the beauty industry, and how did your career journey begin?

A: I’ve been in the beauty industry since I was 18, so over 20 years now, though I like to say I don’t look it! My career has taken me from Connecticut and New York to Charleston, where I’ve lived for the past 15 years. While Ralph is the stylist, I gravitated toward the business and creative side, managing operations, designing our interiors, supporting staff growth, and shaping the overall experience of the salon. My role has always been about making sure the salon thrives, both for our team and our guests.

Q: What is the story behind your salon’s name? Does it have any special meaning or story?

A: Honestly, it started as kind of a silly inside joke. When we were building out the downtown location, it was just Ralph, Ethan, and me. Ethan has been with us since he was 19, and he was our only employee when we first opened.Back then, Ralph used to tease Ethan and me because we’d get really dressed up to go out in downtown Charleston. He’d joke that our outfits looked like we were headed to New York City, not Charleston. As part of the joke, Ralph invented a fictitious nightclub he called “Largo.” He’d put on this funny voice and say, “Are you going to Largo tonight?” and we’d all laugh about it.So, when it came time to name the salon, we were sitting around brainstorming and Ralph said, “Why not just call it Largo?” It felt perfect, this imaginary “cool place where everyone wants to hang out”, because that’s exactly what we wanted our salon to be.

Q: If you had to describe your salon in three words, what would they be and why?

A: Chic, because I love the aesthetic aspect and you feel it the moment you walk into either of our locations. Creative, because we want our stylists to bring something unique and inspiring to the table. Relaxed, because it is important to us that guests feel welcome and at ease without any sense of pretentiousness.

Q: What is one Milbon product you can't live without, and why?

A: Honestly, I can’t choose just one. The Heat Protective Mist is a must, especially in Charleston with the intense humidity, it’s a total savior. I also love the Texturizing Spray because it works for everyone and adds amazing dimension. And then there’s the Reawaken Collection, which has become essential in our salon. Whether guests have extensions or not, it’s a product everyone can benefit from.

Q: Why did you decide to become a Milbon Concept Salon?

A: Being exclusive to one brand feels very chic and intentional. I also think it is better for our clients. When guests are overwhelmed with too many choices, it can be confusing. It can also be confusing for stylists when deciding what to recommend or sell. Focusing on Milbon streamlines the experience. We know exactly what we have and we can confidently offer it. I love being a concept salon. It feels great to partner with a brand that we trust and that matches our vision.

Q: What is the one thing you enjoy about being a concept salon?

A: Even though we are still new at it, the attention and support we have received has been amazing. The education team has been there instantly whenever we needed a class or guidance. Chris was even on site during our first week to provide support, which was incredible. Being a smaller boutique salon, personalized attention from a brand like Milbon is very important to us. It aligns perfectly with the type of experience we want to provide our clients.

Q: Which Milbon products are the stylists’ favorites in your salon?

A: One of the biggest favorites among our stylists is the Dry Texturizing Spray. It is always in demand and practically flies off the shelf. Hairspray is another staple that everyone loves. Recently, our team has been getting more into the treatments at the back bar. We have the Head Spa system and we are starting to introduce it more at this location. It has been a little challenging downtown, but because we are so busy here, we are diving into it and anticipate that Head Spa treatments will become very popular and exciting for both our team and our clients.

Q: Which Milbon products are the guests’ favorites at your salon?

A: Our guests are loving the Reawaken Collection, especially because we do so many extensions on the weekends. Those products fly off the shelves, and people are really excited about the new Monochromatic line as well. The packaging and rollout are very appealing, and we have noticed that guests often want to try everything and end up buying the complete collection. It is really exciting to see that level of enthusiasm.