Leading Calabasas hair salon celebrates 10 years at The Summit center



AIR LIFT—Business owner Raychel Harrison shows her creative flair as she styles the hair of a customer at Salon Nuuvo in Calabasas. The shop has built a loyal customer base since opening a decade ago. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

AIR LIFT—Business owner Raychel Harrison shows her creative flair as she styles the hair of a customer at Salon Nuuvo in Calabasas. The shop has built a loyal customer base since opening a decade ago. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

When Raychel Harrison had her first child in 2006, the celebrity hairstylist and John Paul Mitchell show artist decided to leave her job at the Mandalay Bay Hotel salon in Las Vegas and focus on raising her daughter in a family-friendly community.

After moving to the Conejo Valley, Harrison and her husband, former Olympic gold medal boxer Audley Harrison, found the community to be a perfect environment to raise their daughter.

After a few years of being a mom, Harrison’s creative passion was reignited, and she decided she would return to the hair industry.

She found a location to open her own salon in Calabasas, and with the help of her husband they secured a lease in May 2011 at The Summit shopping center on 26777 Agoura Road. While the tenant improvements were taking place, Harrison traveled frequently to meet hairstylists and share her vision for a teambased salon.

Harrison gathered a group of master and junior hairstylists, and Salon Nuuvo opened in February 2012 with a hair and fashion show. This year they are celebrating their 10th anniversary in Calabasas.

Over the years, the salon has been involved in multiple philanthropic activities for the community. Harrison has won awards for her business operations and customer service while launching the careers of other hairstylists who were trained at her in-house academy.

“We will continue to donate hair for kids through the Wigs For Kids’ ambassadorship, and to make more wishes come true with our charity efforts at Casa Pacifica,” Harrison said.

Despite the success of being in business for a decade, there have been difficult moments, including closures brought on by the Woolsley fire and the pandemic. The health crisis forced the salon to shutter for seven months in 2020.

Harrison is grateful for the loyalty of her customers.

“We really have had amazing clients who have supported us through the pandemic, purchasing our home color kits that helped us generate revenue to continue our medical benefits program for our team,” she said.

“The vision of teamwork, continuous education and impeccable customer service has proven to be a winning formula, so I’m truly grateful to have this opportunity to serve our community,” Harrison said.

Her goal for the next 10 years?

“To give people a place to come, to step away from the world and take a deep breathe of relaxation and tranquility. Where everyone knew your name and how you liked your coffee. To leave people empowered to tackle the road ahead,” she said.