Across the street from the Florida Avenue Whole Foods store in Shaw sits Salon Revive at 944 Florida Ave. NW. Calm colors, exposed brick walls and large windows make the space feel like a bright, modern oasis, but customers are greeted with more than just relaxation and styling services. They are welcomed “home.”
“We’re small, we’re welcoming,” owner Yodit Girma said of Salon Revive. “It’s like coming home,” she said.
Having worked in the industry for over 20 years, owning her own salon has been Girma’s lifelong dream. She chose to adopt the Aveda concept, which features products free of chemicals that are healthier for hair and better for the environment.
“My mother did hair as sort of a hobby and that’s really what’s instilled it in me,” Girma recalled. “I had always thought about growing it into something a bit more community oriented and to get behind a product line that’s environmentally conscious.” Salon Revive opened on the 1900 block of Ninth St. NW in 2004 and moved to its current location in 2020.
Salon Revive’s dedicated team of stylists offers a variety of services, including cut, color and general hair care, with special expertise in curly hair. The salon also soon plans to bring back makeup application, something paused amid the COVID-19 crisis.
While customers come from all parts of the District, Maryland and Virginia for the salon’s services, Girma emphasized her love for Shaw.
“I’ve always loved the area,” Girma said of the neighborhood. “I’m glad we made the decision to stay here when we expanded. Everyone has always been very welcoming to us, and we definitely want to give that back.”
Loyal customers helped Salon Revive survive the pandemic, during which some salons closed for good. “We love our customers,” Girma related. “We wouldn’t be here today without them.”
Visit salonrevive.com for a full list of services and to make an appointment.
Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com.
