JustB Salon creates bold, brave and beautiful looks for Leslieville

/

For many of us, our hair is our crowning glory. It defines part of our identity — whether long or short, light or dark, straight or curly. We colour it, plait it, curl it or straighten it to satisfy our needs. Finding the right stylist to handle something as precious as our mane can be a challenge, especially one that’s local.

Enter the boutique JustB Salon in Leslieville. In 2015, partners Ben Barkworth and Rom Diaz introduced their gender-neutral salon for head-turning cuts, colouring and makeup expertise into the mix of trendy businesses popping up on the Queen East strip.

“JustB is a welcoming, gender-neutral salon where everyone can enjoy a personable, intimate experience,” Ben explains.

The salon’s ethos — B Bold, B Brave, B Beautiful — isn’t just a catchy motto. From the ambiance to the personalities to the custom-tailored looks, it’s a philosophy that permeates the salon.

“We take a bespoke-beauty approach — custom-tailored looks for every guest,” Ben explains. “Rather than a cookie-cutter service, we create new looks for every client. Hair is an opportunity for everyone to express their lifestyle with individuality, and we’re here to help them get there.”

It’s not only the attitude and disposition that sets JustB Salon apart, but also its fluency in the raw language of hairstyling. JustB is a thriving hub of forward thinkers and innovative stylists.

“JustB Salon is not just a place for hair or makeup — it’s a lifestyle, a culture, a trendy place where everyone receives top beauty services and experiences true customer relations,” Ben says. “Anyone seeking a place to ‘B’ who they want to ‘B’, we are here to help them achieve the look they want and feel most confident in their own shoes, feeling runway-ready in their everyday wear.”

JustB Salon is located at 1150 Queen St. E.

Call 647-740-1309 to book an appointment with one of the stylists at JustB Salon, or visit justbsalon.ca for more information.

Find out more about JustB Salon in the profile below

For many of us, our hair is our crowning glory. It defines part of our identity — whether long or short, light or dark, straight or curly. We colour it, plait it, curl it or straighten it to satisfy our needs. Finding the right stylist to handle something as precious as our mane can be a challenge, especially one that’s local.

Enter the boutique JustB Salon in Leslieville. In 2015, partners Ben Barkworth and Rom Diaz introduced their gender-neutral salon for head-turning cuts, colouring and makeup expertise into the mix of trendy businesses popping up on the Queen East strip.

“JustB is a welcoming, gender-neutral salon where everyone can enjoy a personable, intimate experience,” Ben explains.

 

The stylish space feels refined but approachable, an understated setting with gorgeous original hardwood floors and stark white walls. Hits of black and chrome mix to create a clean, modern aesthetic with subtle lighting and accents that nod to Ben’s British roots.

The salon’s ethos — B Bold, B Brave, B Beautiful — isn’t just a catchy motto. From the ambiance to the personalities to the custom-tailored looks, it’s a philosophy that permeates the salon.

“We wanted to create a space where everyone could feel welcome and relaxed,” Ben says. “We wanted a space that was not just about beauty but also lifestyle. A space that you can drop in to say hi, or a space you let go and ‘B’ yourself. Based on that, we designed the salon to reflect the elegance of the services we offer with an approachable neutral environment suitable for everyone.”

Ben is the face of the salon — he’s the one directing, cutting, colouring and consulting on the floor. A decade honing his flair for the dramatic, the British-born stylist has a prolific background in hair and is the salon’s go-to stylist when growing out a ho-hum cut. He’ll reconstruct it into a polished 'do that doesn’t require tons of maintenance post-salon.

Rom manages the operations side of JustB and keeps things running smooth. His eye for meticulous planning and excellent customer service has been critical to the salon’s success.

CREATING RUNWAY-READY LOOKS

It’s not only the attitude and disposition that sets JustB Salon apart, but also its fluency in the raw language of hairstyling. JustB is a thriving hub of forward thinkers and innovative stylists.

The salon’s stylists work with clients to make sure their cut, style or colour is truly one of a kind. It’s about crafting a distinctive look based on their wants that creates an extension of their personality and lifestyle.

“We take a bespoke-beauty approach — custom-tailored looks for every guest,” Ben explains. “Rather than a cookie-cutter service, we create new looks for every client. Hair is an opportunity for everyone to express their lifestyle with individuality, and we’re here to help them get there.”

Ben’s reputation as a renowned cut and colour expert is a part of what draws in clientele. Colouring, highlighting and staining hair is his true passion, particularly when clients trust his judgement to create dynamic hairstyles such as an extreme ombre with balayage accents. He can take even the deepest brunettes to a glowing blonde — and keeps hair smooth and strong in the process.

“We love everything hair but custom-tailored cuts, colour corrections, transformation and blondes are our specialties,” Ben says. “No matter what stage your hair is at, we will bring you where you want to be.”

The staff at JustB ensure styles are easy to match and maintain long after the appointment has ended, then sends you off with a few tips on how to easily replicate the new look at home.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Connecting JustB Salon with the neighbourhood’s vibe helps Ben, Rom and the shop’s stylists create an authentic, intimate experience where Leslieville locals and visitors alike feel comfortable and welcome.

High expectations are welcome as clients come in for the JustB experience. It starts with an offer of complimentary espresso drinks (or fresh-pressed juices for sale from nearby Belmonte Raw) and ends with looks of high-street confidence.

“JustB Salon is not just a place for hair or makeup — it’s a lifestyle, a culture, a trendy place where everyone receives top beauty services and experiences true customer relations,” Ben says. “Anyone seeking a place to ‘B’ who they want to ‘B’, we are here to help them achieve the look they want and feel most confident in their own shoes, feeling runway-ready in their everyday wear.”

It’s about making a connection through a positive experience and then nurturing that relationship, explains Ben.

“Personal connections are the foundation to the level of trust, communication and end-result of every guest that comes to the salon,” Ben explains. “JustB offers that intimate experience where our guests can connect with their stylist and the rest of the team, feeling comfortable and relaxed with every visit. We nourish these relationships in any way we can because our goal is for every guest to leave feeling their best inside and out.”

Making clients feel comfortable is a priority for JustB’s stylists and staff, as this ensures that everyone walks out the door feeling as beautiful as their hair looks.

“Like any relationship, it’s all about communication,” Ben says. “We believe it’s important to have a consultation with every appointment. Listening to our guests is our number one responsibility, because we’re here to give them what they want in the best way possible.”

 

MORE THAN A ONE-TRICK PONY

It’s not all about cuts and colour at this full-service salon. If you want a quick pampering, JustB Salon offers a whole menu of affordable luxuries — from blowouts to scalp massages and other style treatment pick-me-ups — that instantly make any day better.

Get your blush on with the salon’s makeup services that range from eyelash extensions to wedding and evening makeup.

The salon team also coifs and calms for bridal, birthdays and bachelors and bachelorettes. It begins with a consultation and ends with smooth, bouncy blowouts and stylish updos as timeless as your dress.

“We offer mobile wedding services, including in-house trial and services at the salon or venue on the day of the event,” Ben says. “We can work around schedules to make sure the big day goes smooth.

“For those looking for a unique fun, relaxing experience, we’ll put together all the pieces — some scotch, sparkling and catering — for a private pampering party at the salon.”

Beauty matters, but then so does our health. With that in mind, the salon leads various environmental initiatives to soften its footprint.

“As a proud environmentally friendly salon, we recycle everything so hairspray cans don’t end up in a landfill and hair is used to save oceans from oil spills,” Ben says.

JustB Salon’s social responsibility also means using healthy quality professional products. The salon uses Scruples professional hair colour, care and styling products exclusively, and Barkworth is a Canadian educator and North American platform artist with the brand.