We’re back in Portland today as we meet Rachael Ann Niven, the owner of Invoke Salon to chat all things hair, beauty, and fashion in Oregon and beyond.

We cover ‘how to build a space for everyone to enjoy’, a winning routine to maintain optimum scalp health for incredible hair, and some other independent Portland businesses you simply don’t want to miss out on.

Enjoy!

Rachael Ann, tell us more about yourself

I am the owner of Invoke Salon in Portland, Oregon. We are proud to be an inclusive salon, where by utilizing modalities of self-care we help you to invoke self-love.

Before becoming a salon owner I was an educator for some of my favorite professional brands. Our industry is constantly evolving and education is pivotal in staying inspired and relevant to our client’s needs.

What will clients experience at Invoke Salon?

Invoke Salon is located in inner southeast Portland, in a lively corner with some fantastic restaurants and bars!

Each of our stylists has over 10 years of experience and we deeply value our relationships with our guests.

It’s not always the easiest to put yourself in the vulnerable position of receiving personal services, so at Invoke we aim to make the process as comfortable as possible. We offer many refreshments such as Nespresso coffee, beer, wine, and soda water and use high quality, no-tox, eco-conscious hair care products to heal and maintain your hair.

Sales will never be pushed, but rest assured you will be educated on how to style your look at home and maintain a low-maintenance routine. Our plant-filled space encourages a grounding experience, while something fun like French pop music will be playing to call in fresh energy.

Invoke is a space for everyone!

What specialties does Invoke Salon offer?

We are made up of a team of cutting and color specialists. Through our non-gendered services, you’ll find curly cuts, fades, perms, and any hair coloring service you could dream of!

Long and short hair is for everyone, so we reflect that reality in our services menu.

What is your number one tip for a happy, healthy hair and beauty routine?

It seems redundant, but HOW we wash our hair is so important.

I prefer cleansing conditioners that don’t strip the hair of its natural oils, and I’ve primarily cleaned with Hairstory New Wash for years now.

But what everyone needs is a shower brush! From detangling more gently, to helping exfoliate dead skin cells from our scalp to evenly distributing conditioner down the cuticle of the hair shaft. It’s a small step that has a lot of benefits! Framar and Wet Brush have great detangling brushes!

What Portland hair, beauty, and fashion trends are you seeing right now?

Square bobs are still vibing right now. Especially with the weather turning around, lots of big chops coming in with blunt layers and tons of texture!

What hair and beauty products do you think should be in everyone’s day-to-day routine?

Scalp health and dryness is a concern for 80% of my clients so I love Cult + King Tonik to maintain a healthy environment for that sensitive skin.

The entire C + K line is incredible, though their star may be Jelly! A liquid Himalayan salt texturizer that can be scrunched for beautiful curl hold or blown out for volume.

I love it for getting lightweight volume and texture in short sassy cuts. People love hearing how besides being all clean ingredients Cult + King is a zero-waste company with beautiful glass bottles!

Beyond Invoke Salon, who else would you like to give some love to?

Hush Tan is an incredible woman-owned business that does airbrush tanning, and my favorite personal flair, tooth gems!

Sloan is a local boutique with a perfectly curated selection of modern clothing trends!

Which current celebrity or public figure is getting it so right with their hair, beauty, and styling?

While I didn’t love Miley’s full 80s blowout at the Grammys, she is constantly trying new styles and fully committing to the looks!

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our SalonOtter readers?

Creating and prioritizing community in our industry is so important!

In my city alone there are hundreds of incredibly talented, passionate, and kind hairstylists. I look forward to hosting more education events at my salon to build us all up even further!

Where can people find Invoke Salon in Portland, Oregon?

We’re at 1125 SE Division St #105, Portland, OR 97202

Check out our website to make a booking and we’re also on Insta

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Thanks so much Rachael-Ann, we can’t wait to visit you and the Invoke Salon team again soon!