Shades Beverly Hills

Our mission is to provide customers with a permanent color process that is naturally based, non-toxic and most importantly, 100% ammonia-free.

Shades is commited to being a green salon. We dont use any chemicals and we want to make sure your hair is in the best condition!

Susan Henry is a 30-year veteran of the Beverly Hills salon scene. She is a colorist and the owner/operator of Shades Natural Color Studio. In 1997, Susan became ill from working with hair color all-day every-day. She came to find out that the hair colors she was using were filled with harsh chemicals like ammonia and coal tar derivatives. Her immune system was slowly breaking down and she could no longer continue to color hair with conventional hair coloring products. Her eyes would swell and darken and she would get lesions on her hands and face, as well as a deep cough whenever she was around hair color.

Susan was devastated. She was raising her 3 kids on her own (their father had passed away at age 36) and she needed a steady income to keep her family fed. Susan began experimenting with natural dyes with her daughter who was taking a botany class at Humboldt State University.

Susan became very interested in the natural ability to dye hair. She worked with chemists to develop a hair color without the harsh chemicals she physically could not be around. She was also worried about the environmental effects of harsh chemicals in the waste water system and worked to create a color that would biodegrade appropriately in waste water treatment systems.

NCP and SHADES NATURAL COLOR STUDIO
Susan Henry’s Natural Color Process (NCP) was born and Susan began to sell the hair color over the internet and use it on her clients. Susan’s clients were so impressed with the results from her hair color that they insisted they would never use another product. NCP improves the health of hair, lightening hair and covering gray without damaging.

Susan opened Shades Natural Color Studio in Beverly Hills in 2006. Shades is an eco-oasis that is comfortable and inviting with its Tahitian-themed décor and friendly staff. Susan serves many clients who are sensitive to chemicals, including expectant mothers and cancer patients/survivors.

Susan makes her own organic oils for hair, hands and feet, as well as shampoo and conditioner. She makes home-made, natural soaps of various delicious and enticing scents. Susan developed a baby line of products called “Baby Jack” shortly after her grandson Jack was born last year, which includes peach scented baby powder. Susan’s products are unique and natural.

Shades Natural Color Studio is committed to being green. Large skylights provide most of the light in this open and airy salon, conserving electricity and providing a bright and open space that is casual but elegant and very relaxing. Shades hairdressers use low noise, low energy hair dryers. Shades serves organic coffee straight from the roaster in Humboldt County (Muddy Waters Coffee Co.) and chooses to use real mugs and utensils, not paper or plastic products that must be thrown away. Shades is always looking for ways to cut down on waste and lessen environmental impacts.