Self-care and a beautiful space, what could be better? That’s the concept at Freija Collective, a boutique salon and wellness center in LA’s Highland Park neighborhood. “There are so many great salons in LA, but I felt that they all lacked the calm environment that most of us long for when receiving beauty services,” owner Katharine Boss says. “My main goal behind opening Freija was creating a place with ultimate self-care in mind. Somewhere you can go and receive excellent haircare services by some of the biggest talents in LA, have all your skincare concerns met in our tranquil treatment room, and receive healing energy work with our resident Reiki master.”
During her 20s, Katharine’s career was centered around Fashion Week—living and working in New York or traveling to Paris to style models for runway shows. “I moved back to my hometown, Los Angeles, and settled in Highland Park,” she recalls. “I absolutely fell in love with its charm.” It was the perfect setting to bring her vision of Freija Collective to life.
For the interiors, Katharine worked with Brooke Spreckman, owner of Design Hutch. “Our space is minimal, timeless, and soothing,” Katharine says. “Our goal behind the monochromatic neutral aesthetic was to make it feel like you were literally walking into a warm hug.”
Guests enter through the apothecary and waiting area. “Our reception desk is made up of neutral Zellige tile and above it we have a gorgeous watercolor by Kim McCarty,” Katherine explains. “There is a large arch wall that houses our very curated favorite beauty products so that your self-care journey can continue at home.” From the start, the experience is calming—especially with the offer of coffee, tea, or natural wine. “I think the crowd favorite is our tea service,” she says. “We offer a variety of teas from Leaves and Flowers in a ceramic tea pot with perfect little touches like our brown rock sugar stirring sticks and beautiful milk saucer. There is a glass sand timer that will go off, so you know it’s time to pour your tea. Our service providers will greet you with positivity and allow you to have the self-care journey you choose. If you want to talk, great. If not, they are happy to let you have a silent experience as you drink in the calming magic of Freija.”
The hair cutting area features comfortable leather chairs and walls coated in Portola Paints Roman Clay Plaster. “The texture and color were chosen to literally bring your blood pressure down,” Katharine explains. Hair color is done in separate room, with floor-to-ceiling windows and an abundance of natural light to ensure guests will be happy with their color once they step outside. The hair washing space is a mix of Zellige and glass blocks, a visually relaxing combination. The same materials extend into the tranquil treatment room. The bathrooms take a “moodier” approach, with one boasting a large-scale photo of Cher. (So, guests can literally take a selfie with Cher and their new hair.)
Stepping back into the neighborhood, guests can pop by local-favorite Cookbook Market for fresh flowers and produce, grab a latte at Civil Coffee, or get lost in the vintage furniture wonderland that is Sunbeam Vintage. “You can really make a full day out of your self-care journey that begins or ends at Freija,” Katharine says.
Take a tour in the slideshow + learn more at freijacollective.com.
