Meet Garrison Neill of Paris Parker, a third generation owner of Paris Parker Salon & Spa. With over 10 locations in Southeast Louisiana, Paris Parker is a leader in the community for beauty and wellness. Paris Parker Salon & Spa is a full-service Aveda salon committed to giving guests the best salon and spa experiences with naturally-derived and cruelty-free products. In this interview, Garrison Neill shares the chief characteristics of Paris Parker and what keeps locals coming back time and time again.

Tell us the story of Paris Parker.

Our story actually starts in 1946 when my grandparents Harriet and Abner Neill started the Magnolia Beauty Supply company. We distributed a variety of beauty supply products and brands throughout the Southeast United States. When my dad got involved in the business, it was around the time that Vidal Sassoon cut Mia Farrow’s hair for Rosemary’s Baby. That was when the whole industry changed, wash-and-wear haircuts became a thing, and women started looking for at home hair care. Our company pivoted into a stylist education and consumer hair care distributors. As a distributor and partner for hundreds of salons in the region, we felt we needed to have our own salons to really walk the talk with our customers. Our first salon was opened in 1991 in Hammond, Louisiana, and was named after my younger sister Paris, who was born the same year. We have since expanded to Baton Rouge, Covington, Mandeville, and New Orleans. 

What is your favorite aspect of running a family owned and operated salon?

As a company we value relationships and personal development, and we really support our team members personal and professional growth and success. Many of our employees have been with us for years and have grown up in the company, as I have. I enjoy working for my family business because we value our relationships with our employees as if they were family. 

Paris Parker is more than just a salon. Can you tell us about the variety of services you offer?

We create an environment that fosters beauty, community, and memorable experiences. What we do gives people an opportunity to love themselves more and in turn, they can love the world around them. We attune to our clients unique needs and desires by listening to understand, then providing services, experiences and results above and beyond what is expected. Our internal brand philosophy is to help people reach their full potential. We do this through offering not just technical education but also personal development opportunities. Externally, our mission is to help our clients be their best self and live their best life. We believe that inner beauty fosters outward beauty. 

Talk to us about the transformative power of a haircut.

Getting your hair cut or colored isn’t just about looking good, it’s about feeling good. Sometimes a salon can be like a trip to the spa, or your therapist.  The way we make people feel restores the balance of inner and outer beauty. 

Parker Barber is your concept space for men. Will you share more about it with us?

We wanted to create a space where men could feel as comfortable and taken care of as a woman would feel in a salon. It honors the old barbershops of the past but with an elevated experience and level of service. All of our barbers are trained in much more than just barbering so they can handle any style our guests request. A fun fact about the Parker is that the motorcycle we have in the shop was my grandfathers, he was the first Yamaha dealer in the Midwest.

What advice are you giving to clients right now? Tell us your safety precautions you’re implementing. 

We are following the federal and state guidelines and our number one priority is keeping our team and our customers safe. We require masks be worn by everyone inside the salon, we are operating at a lower capacity, and we temporarily removed a few of the prior touchpoints such as beverage service, magazines, and hand massages. We’ve gotten a lot of feedback about how safe and clean the environment feels and we are committed to continuing to do so as long as necessary. 

What’s the chief characteristic about your business? What do your clients keep coming back for? 

We take a holistic approach to everything we do and see our client experience as more than just a hair cut – its a wellness visit. Our staff is some of the most highly trained professionals in the country and we stand behind their talent and the experience they provide. 

Paris Parker gives a lot back to our local community. Share with us a few examples of organizations you support/partner with. 

It’s honestly hard to name all of the community involvement we have. From displaying local artists art in our location to raising $10,000 for breast cancer awareness with Ochsner, to our partnerships with the New Orleans Mom Blog. We have a studio downtown where we do a lot of collaboration and photoshoot work. We’ve always been a strong partner of the Mississippi River Keepers, and we have an amazing in-house recycling program. In 2019 alone we diverted 20,000 pounds of waste from the landfill. 

What do you love most about owning a business in New Orleans? 

I love our diverse and eclectic clientele. It ranges from lawyers to artists to school teachers to bartenders. I also love how our salon locations are woven into the neighborhoods where they reside and our salons become a part of the fabric of the city. 

On a personal note, tell us how you and your family are enjoying this slower pace of life.

We’ve been enjoying getting outside for long neighborhood walks or to the park. My wife and I love going for a cocktail on the porch at the newly renovated Columns. We have been enjoying the increase in delivery and takeout options which has been great for our lifestyle with two young daughters. 

Paris Parker | New Orleans | Baton Rouge | Hammond | Mandeville | Book Online or call 877.TRU.GIFT