Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Arielle “Ari” Venturella. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ari, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Maeda is a salon located in Louisville KY. We are a conscious collective of artists with shared values. We provide a high quality, clean beauty experience where everyone is welcomed and cared for.

Hospitality and attention to detail have been a huge part of my upbringing. Growing up I just assumed everyone had snacks in fun cups on a hand made placemat, spread across a seasonally decorated table. Which ever holiday or season it was you would feel it from the moment you walked into our home, and my mother and grandmother wanted my siblings and I to share that joy with everyone we crossed paths with. Our joy at home was spent making, cooking and crafting things for our family, friends, and neighbors.

As I got older and wanted to bring this feeling into my own home, it felt unchieavable or rather not affordable. I looked forward to the moments I could come home, knowing that my grandmother (Kanaye Maeda) would load me up with hand made gifts and decor and the occasional bag of meatballs to carry back home on the train to Chicago. The more visits I had home I came to realize that the magic wasn’t because of money, it was because of the love, effort, and time spent on the ideas. It wasn’t the orange cup on halloween with the chocolate dipped pretzels, it wasn’t the Easter bunnies made out of wash cloths, it was the fact that someone took the time to put those simple things together for me, to make me feel special. It was the fact that my family wanted to make me and everyone around us feel special and seen no matter what the day was.

I took this new found realization and ran with it. I began to incorporate these gestures into every part of my life. Some would call me extra, maybe excessive, but romanticizing life (especially the one we live in) is a small blip of joy that we have total control over, and it doesn’t take that much extra time or energy and I have made it my mission to do things for the people around me just because.

At Maeda we want you to feel like you are truly being taken care of and heard. Before you walk in our doors we want you to feel understood and considered. Maeda is for everyone, regardless of gender, race, sexuality, creed, or age. We stay mindful about the way our business can influence someone based on who they are as an individual. We use gender-neutral language and pricing and you will find services to cater to all hair types.

Once you do walk in our doors you are greeted with plants, good smells and eco-friendly products. Our team will offer you coffee, tea, or water and you better believe it’s coming in a magical cup on a funky coaster. The gold ottoman will hold your things, and the small clay dish will hold any jewelry you need to take out for your appointment. Our team takes the time to sit down and greet you with a conversation eye to eye. We don’t want you to feel rushed and we really want to hold space for anything you may need to process or work through before we begin. We are touching your crown! A thorough consultation and connection is the least we can do.

Once a plan is in motion we will provide you with all of the services you need for a quality services. No add-ons and no double booking. Your time booked with us is valued and we will spend that time providing you with everything you need and give you 100% of our attention.

We’re here to be a bright spot in peoples lives. We strive to make you feel beautiful, joyful, inspired, and more like your authentic self. We want you to feel seen and heard and to leave with a feeling of joy.

Maeda is my grandmother. Maeda is my mother. Maeda is my sister. Maeda is my daughter. Maeda is all of my family. Maeda is honoring, respecting and taking genuine time and care for all people.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Arielle “Ari” Venturella. I live in the woods in Louisville Ky, with my partner, three step kids and fur babies Ghost and Pudge.

Originally from Chicago I spent my twenties training in various programs and salons with cutting as my speciality. I trained in New York and London and ultimately ended up here in Louisville KY. (for love barf)

As a stylist it has always been my mission to service all people and all types of hair. I took the baseline education I was taught at beauty school and was determined to build upon that in any area that I could. After mastering the art of straight hair and razor work I nose dived into tight, curly and wavy hair. Servicing all types of hair is something I am committed to training and educating myself on for the rest of my career.

After an obstacle course of trying to get my license transferred to Kentucky, I found myself unable to find a space where I could truly be myself and grow in the ways I was looking for. I decided to work alone for a while in a space I called Onyx and Rose. My goal was to just take clients and work alongside anyone who wanted to rent space. I wanted to be alone. The pandemic hit and I was faced with the reality that being alone was actually horrible. I craved my community.

After the horrific and tragic murder of Breonna Taylor I was determined to come back from lockdown with a new mission, community on the forefront of my mind. Although I love my job and constantly educate myself, I realized that hair was just a small piece of the puzzle in the space that I was trying to create. I set out with an amazing artist here in Louisville to create my brand. I kept my head down and ignored everyone who was confused about my new movements. Yes, I was closing my small shop that I barely kept afloat in lockdown to open something bigger. Yes, I was ridding my team and moving forward almost alone (thank you Heather) because I believed that there were others out there who shared my new found vision and mission.

After two really intense years, Maeda is really here. She houses six amazing artists who share similar values. We enjoy each other, our space, and offering space to you. Maeda strives to contribute to our community where and when we can. Something I am most proud of is The Shelby Park Hygiene Pantry. Maeda acts as a drop off location for hygiene products that we donate to the The Shelby Park Community Garden Pantry that was founded in 2020 by eight year old Nora Pohl. We are so honored to have her share her pantry with us.

As a brand I would like to be looked at for more than just hair. I hope people see the many ways we try to give back to not only our community but also the environment. I hope for people to feel the genuine care and love we put into everything we do.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media and marketing is a full time job. I have not hit my goal yet of being able to afford a full time salon manager or assistant so, I do almost everything alone. This is not a brag or something I recommend. It is is hard and requires a Tetris style amount of organization. Which is something I don’t totally have down just yet.

I set days aside where I am not taking clients for the admin work for the salon. I make a list the night before or the morning of, of the things I need or want to tackle for the day. I try to be reasonable with the amount of work I can actually do that day and organize my lists by priority.

I used to not pay attention to the trends or the ever changing offerings of the internet, but unfortunately in our Industry specifically, social media is important and I have to take the time to make the reels and the educational posts. It really does help our business. I believe that in this day of age consumers are looking for more than just good work, they want to catch your vibe, see what you offer, and support brands that they truly believe in.

When posting I try not to overthink it and keep things light, filter free, and authentic. I’ve noticed the posts I get the most response to are when I am being my most honest self. Bad hair days, exhaustion from my life, even where I stand politically. Being able to relate to someone who you admire is the best feeling ever, it reminds you that they are human just like you. In an industry that is very filtered and all about visually changing yourself I try to blur the lines between honesty and aesthetic to create an environment online and in person that is true and not filtered.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Managing a team is the hardest part of any job. So many personalities, so many different needs. When rebranding and starting my new space I knew that I needed to really hone in and spend the time and money to write out my brand completely. Having my brand, mission, and expectations all written out right at the beginning allowed me to present it immediately to any new hires. For me, having the verbiage to rely back on in the times of any small conflict really helps my anxiety and keeps things simple and effective.

I don’t believe in drama or making things bigger issues than they are. I like to be very honest and to the point. I treat my team as I want them to treat me. I offer quarterly meetings to provide them a chance to communicate anything to me privately or one on one.

When I am not in the best head space mentally, or have a lot going on at home I share that with my team. I don’t burden them but I try to be honest about where I am at and how much I can offer to them in that season and I remind them that they are always able to do the same. We are all just humans and we can only do so much. Creating an image of higher power does not benefit me or my team and does not allow me to mess up or make mistakes. Which for me, is not the type of person I want to be.

My interest and focus is to grow my team in the ways that they want to grow. I would like to believe that my staff can feel how high of a priority and focus they are for me and that it is genuine. You can have the most successful business on the planet but if your team is miserable, you will be miserable to. Our energies share so much space, we have to be on the same team, working on the same mission, towards the same goals.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.maedasalon.com
• Instagram: ari_yourneighborhoodwitch maedasalon

Image Credits
Rachel Crain Soulful Film Photography Shelby Rodeffer Finer Signs