An Interview on Interiors and International Expansion
Published:US hairstylist and colourist Larisa Love has expanded her salon business into Europe with a new two-chair boutique space in Amsterdam, combining bespoke design, personalised colour services and plans for future education opportunities.
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For Larisa Love, opening a salon in Amsterdam was never part of a long-term expansion plan. Instead, the opportunity came unexpectedly while she was visiting the city to look at homes, leading to the creation of an intimate new space that reflects her evolution as an artist and business owner.
“I honestly wasn’t actively looking to open another salon, especially internationally,” Love explains. “I was here looking at homes and on my second day I received an email about the space. Something in me told me I had to see it.”
From the moment she walked through the door, Love could visualise what the space could become. The opportunity felt instinctive, reinforcing her belief that some of the best business decisions happen when they are not forced.
Designed to feel moody, edgy, intimate and elevated, the Amsterdam salon offers a different experience from a traditional hairdressing environment. With just two chairs, the boutique space prioritises privacy, exclusivity and a highly personalised client experience.
The interior reflects Love’s aesthetic, with an all-black scheme, custom-made furniture and vintage crystal chandeliers sourced from across the Netherlands. Each chandelier has its own story, contributing to the character of the space.
“I wanted clients to walk in and feel like they’re entering an experience, not just coming in for a hair appointment.”
The salon also reflects Love’s current approach to her work. While her Los Angeles salon remains an important part of her career, Amsterdam has allowed her to create something different, with greater emphasis on intention and the way she works behind the chair.
“Every salon teaches you something,” she says. “This time I didn’t design the space around what a salon is ‘supposed’ to look like. I designed it around how I actually work and what I love.”
That thinking extends to practical details, including the salon chairs, which were chosen because they lower particularly far. At 5ft 3in, Love says this makes a significant difference to her comfort while working. The colour bar is another central feature, designed to balance functionality with aesthetics.
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Love describes Amsterdam as a city with an effortlessly cool atmosphere, where individuality, fashion and simplicity coexist naturally. Since beginning the project, she has identified opportunities within the local hair and beauty market, particularly around education, elevated colour work and creating a more comprehensive client experience.
She believes that while client preferences and trends vary between locations, understanding the individual remains fundamental to successful hairdressing.
“Every client ultimately wants to feel understood,” she explains.
Consultation is therefore central to her approach, from understanding what clients like and dislike about their hair to establishing how much maintenance they are prepared to commit to and how they want to feel when they leave the salon.
Love believes Amsterdam clients particularly appreciate hair that feels effortless and wearable while retaining a strong sense of individuality.
Opening a business in a new country has brought its own challenges, particularly when it comes to understanding local regulations, recruitment and the practicalities of establishing a salon internationally.
Love acknowledges that the differences between doing business in the Netherlands and the US have created a learning curve, pushing her beyond familiar territory.
“It’s definitely pushed me outside of my comfort zone, but I think that’s where the most growth happens,” she says. “I always say do it scared, and this has definitely been one of those moments.”
Building the right team has also been an important consideration. For Love, personality and energy are as significant as technical ability, particularly in a small salon where the working environment has a direct impact on the overall experience.
She is looking for people who are kind, motivated, creative and open to learning, with a genuine enthusiasm for being part of something different.
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Over the next year, Love hopes to establish the Amsterdam salon as a destination for clients beyond the city, including those travelling from elsewhere in Europe.
She also sees potential for the space to become a hub for creativity and professional development, welcoming guest artists and hosting educational opportunities.
Having already travelled extensively to deliver education, Love is interested in bringing that experience into her own salon, creating opportunities for other professionals to learn and collaborate.
Her ambitions extend beyond opening additional locations. Although Amsterdam could mark the beginning of a more international chapter, Love is not planning to expand simply for the sake of growth.
“I don’t necessarily have this plan of opening salons everywhere because I never want to expand just for the sake of expanding. It has to feel right,” she says.
Instead, she intends to pursue opportunities that align with her creative vision and professional goals, continuing to educate, create and travel while challenging herself as an artist and entrepreneur.
For Love, the Amsterdam opening represents more than a new salon location. It marks the next stage in a career shaped by creative ambition, personal development and a willingness to embrace opportunities beyond her comfort zone.
For more info follows on Instagram @larisadoll.
Read Now: Larisa Love Opens New- Salon in Amsterdam’s Jordaan District.
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