
Beauty Launchpad is spotlighting the winners of its Top 20 Salons contest for 2025! Sponsored by Wella Professionals, this contest spotlights innovative and unique salons that go above and beyond to provide stellar experiences for their clients and opportunities for growth for their hair pros.
Here, Filomena Bettencourt (@filomena.bparlor) welcomes us to B Parlor in San Francisco, CA, established in 1997.
Q&A with Salon Owner
B Parlor Salon ExteriorCourtesy of B Parlor
Filomena Bettencourt (FB): My parents owned the dairy farm I grew up on. I definitely got their entrepreneurial spirit, perseverance and work ethic. I didn't come from a family of hairdressers. I remember completing a comprehensive career questionnaire during high school, and the results gave us some ideas on the profession(s) we would be best suited for. For me, it suggested hair styling, nursing and veterinary care as potential fits. It was during my first salon job where I gained invaluable experience and insights, not just to the craft but also into my own dreams. That’s when my desire for salon ownership started to brew.
After working at the second salon for 6 years, I purchased it from the owner in 2012. By that time I’d been in the industry for 12 years.
BLP: What is the overall aesthetic of your salon? What inspired you when designing the space?
FB: The salon features a retro classic aesthetic, blending growth and modernity while honoring the beauty parlor’s history. I’ve spent over 11 years gathering ideas of design on my salon design Pinterest boards. When I first saw the salon space, I knew it was perfect because of its tall ceilings, abundant natural light, open layout and location. The design is inspired by classic curved arches and Italian Art deco, making the space open and have a flow to it. The Italian Art Deco terrazzo floors inspired me to install a cost-effective version using porcelain tiles that mimic terrazzo. Our color scheme includes navy, white, tan and accents of orange and teal, reminiscing the 1960s. I focused heavily on details, from selecting the perfect drawer pulls and vintage style light fixtures to a classic desk, chairs and Japanese ergonomic shampoo basins by Takara Belmont. B Parlor Salon InteriorCourtesy of B Parlor
BLP: What services do you provide your clients? Are any of these services signature and/or exclusive to your salon?
FB: We offer haircuts, color, lightening, smoothing and extensions. Some of our stylists are cutting and/or color specialists. Since we are a booth rental salon, we do not have signature services.
BLP: What products are used/retailed in your salon? Do you have a personal favorite?
FB: We recently made the switch to Oway, an organic Italian haircare company that uses their own bio dynamically farmed ingredients. We absolutely love their mission of helping salons become plastic-free. They have inspired us to make conscious and sustainable purchasing decisions. Currently, my personal favorite product from Oway is the Volume & Texture Puff. It’s perfect for fine hair that tends to get flat and oily the next day. It adds volume and grit to the roots without weighing the hair down.
BLP: What makes your salon unique and stand out?
FB: We've recently launched "B You," a community initiative named by our clients. This platform showcases our clients' businesses, arts and passions through events, interviews, pop-ups and shoutouts. Our goal is to have B Parlor be a vibrant, collaborative space that goes beyond haircare. We prioritize our stylists' convenience by fully stocking Wella color products, eliminating the need for last-minute supply runs on their days off.
B Parlor stands out by combining the flexibility of booth rental with the cohesion of a unified salon, all while prioritizing sustainability, community engagement, and stylist support. We're not just about great hair – we're about creating a space where both stylists and clients can truly "B You."
B Parlor Salon StaffCourtesy of B Parlor
FB: When clients visit us, we hope they sense how much we value going the extra mile—from the moment they schedule their appointment online to the end of their in-salon service. We strive to offer not just impeccable services but a genuine, warm welcome that feels like a community. Our aim is for every experience to be a reflection of our dedication to both excellence and personal connections.
BLP: What piece of advice would you give to a new salon owner?
FB: Find a CPA that is going to help you grow your business’ profit and help you to understand your financial statements. Being a salon owner can be lonely, so find a salon owner community and education program that’ll teach you about leadership. For me, that’s Thrivers Society. Create processes and systems so that you can scale your business. It’ll empower your team to get things done without your help, and give you back the time to strategically work on your business. Read lots of books, and don’t forget to prioritize your health and love.
BLP: What changes do you want to see in the industry to help salon owners and hairstylists working in salons grow and thrive?
FB: There are so many talented independent stylists that would love to bring on an assistant and educate them on their specific specialty. I would like to see an innovative mentorship program that enables this. It could involve creating a system where up-and-coming stylists have the opportunity to learn from multiple independent stylists across different salons, ensuring they gain diverse skills and insights. I think this industry needs a collaborative learning environment, so we can enhance the overall quality of education and empower the next generation of stylists to succeed! B Parlor Color BarCourtesy of B Parlor
BLP: What’s next for your salon? Do you have any goals for 2025?
FB: By the end of 2025, I hope to have our chairs 100% filled with our dream stylists. The past couple years we’ve been in seasons of shifting and scaling, which has taken a ton of time and money. In 2025, I’m looking forward to stabilizing the business by getting more organized and refining our marketing funnel and our systems of procedure.
Follow the Salon
Website: https://www.bparlor.com
Instagram: @bparlorsf
Our Instagram page is full of hair and scalp tips for our followers and also gives stylists a preview of our team culture and how we support them in their businesses.