The term “Breaking boundaries” doesn’t always come to mind when you’re discussing a hair salon, but for Willow Collective Owner Mary Taylor, breaking boundaries is precisely what she envisioned doing when she opened her salon doors in 2022.
Situated in the heart of Conway in south Skagit Valley, Willow Collective offers its patrons high-fashion salon and beauty services with a small town feel that is not only professional and on-trend, but welcoming and comfortable. Located just two minutes off I-5, this quaint space is the perfect central point for its clientele who travel from Seattle, Bellingham, and Whidbey Island for its expansive service menu from hand-tied hair extensions and waxing services to facial treatments and med spa technology.
Small Town Roots
Willow Collective wasn’t always its name. A smaller-scaled version of the salon first opened its doors around the corner from its current location in downtown Conway under the name Willow on Main back in 2017. At that time, it was just Taylor, no collective of artists, and just hair services. Her son, Landon, was still a toddler and doing hair was a means of helping the family income while doing something she loved.
Taylor was a graduate of the Art Institute of Seattle, earning a degree in fashion marketing and design in 2004, followed by a cosmetology license from Everett Community College in 2011. Born and raised in Conway, she had the heart of a small-town girl with big city business savvy and an entrepreneurial spirit; a high-end fashion taste and sensibilities but loved her Conway roots enough to come back home and settle down, even after her career path had taken a divergent turn into corporate banking.
A Collective of Artists
If you ask her, Taylor will tell you that what she has intentionally curated is a collective of extraordinary artists under one roof that offer a blend of salon and beauty services that afford individuals an opportunity to look and feel high maintenance while living low maintenance lifestyles. Their pillars of service include a hair salon, massage, eyebrow waxing, tinting, microblading, facials, MedSpa, and eyelash extensions and enhancement.
“We offer a variety of services, but I’d say we’re best known for our long-lasting hair extensions and low maintenance, lived-in color blonding,” says Taylor. “Our clientele wants to look fresh and current without having to sit in a chair every eight weeks.”
Photograph by Tina L. Kies and Makena Marie Photo
The approach to beauty is multi-faceted, which provides clients with longer-lasting results and less time spent in the salon. One hair extension appointment might see three different methods, such as keratin tips, hand-tied, or beaded row extensions. The diverse methodology provides less visible grow-out and longer wear time.
“I like to break boundaries, and applying multiple methods on one client is just one way that we’re currently doing that,” adds Taylor. “Offering the wide range of services that we do under our roof is another way we’re setting the bar. I don’t know of any other salon in our area that is offering the high level of diversity that we are at Willow Collective.”
Willow Collective currently operates with six stations and four treatment rooms within its 3,400-square-foot space, maintaining seven stylists, a massage therapist, and a nurse practitioner. The salon sees on average 50 to 60 clients each day and continues to welcome new clientele.
We Are a Family
Photograph by Tina L. Kies and Makena Marie Photo
When you walk through the doors, you’re greeted with something special: a sense of community, hospitality, and family. The space itself encourages the eye to wander with an open-concept design, tall 11-foot ceilings, an inviting color schematic that elegantly blends city sophistication with cozy farmhouse comforts, a complimentary coffee and Lotus bar, and a “husband” lounge in the back for spouses or guests that need a place to relax while they wait. “We want our clientele to feel like family,” encourages Taylor. “We tried to create a destination, not just a salon. If our clients need a pick-me-up, we’ll make them a coffee; if they get hungry during their treatment, we’ll walk across the street to the Conway Tavern and pick them up some lunch.”
In Conway, everyone knows everyone. Clientele have mainly come through word of mouth or referral.
“Since opening Willow on Main seven years ago to the rebrand, relocation, and opening of Willow Collective in 2022, I haven’t had to market my business,” concludes Taylor. “I’m still in disbelief some – times at the magnitude of success we’ve had, but attribute it to our loyal and happy clients, and the high level of service and skill we provide everyone who trusts us with their service needs.” 18628 Main St., Conway, 360.661.2294, willowcollectiveconway.com
