One Stop For All Beauty Service In North End

The North End's unique businesses bring people from all over the world to this neighborhood. So North End Patch will be featuring one each week -- whether a restaurant, florist, smoke shop, boutique or salon. Let us know if there's a particular one you'd like to read about in this weekly series.

Ever since she can remember, Erica Harris was interested in beauty.

“I was always doing hair for my friends and family,” she said. “Sometimes it was for proms, holidays or birthdays.”

In fact, Erica has a picture of herself at five years old styling her grandfather’s military buzz cut.

A native of Cambridge, Erica went to UMass Boston and lived in the North End her senior year.

“While I was in college, I did my own hair,” she said. “I messed it up on occasion and would go to a salon the next day to get it fixed.”

The salon that helped her became her employer for a while.

“I apprenticed and worked there for seven years,” Erica said.

A new salon is born

Erica received her degree is sociology and early childhood education.

But she loved providing beauty to others so much that she decided to start her own salon here.

“I opened here in 2001, almost exactly 11 years ago,” Erica said.

Her place is joi salon and spa escape located at 2 Atlantic Avenue.

The salon offers hair styling, facials, body care, massage, hair removal, manicures, pedicures and packages for a number of beauty services.

Why the North End?

“I knew I wanted to open my salon in a real neighborhood with a strong sense of community,” Erica said.

Manager Jessica Chisholm agreed that the North End is a lovely spot for a salon.

“I love working and living in this neighborhood,” she said. “It’s a joy to be in such a friendly place to work and to also have my home in this community.”

And that’s what sets joi apart from other salons, Jessica and Erica said.

“We’re personable and provide a welcoming environment,” Erica said. “Our staff works well together.”

But the strong friendship amongst the stylists does not get in the way of their work.

“We don’t sacrifice our technical skills or service,” Erica said. “We stay current in the industry and attend continuing education classes for stylists and beauticians.”

Favorite memory from the last 11 years

Erica is proud of joi and the staff for their recent foray into helping the community.

“This summer, for the first time, we had a fundraiser to help the Nazzarro Center,” she said. “We called it the joi of summer and provided mini services for a donation.”

In addition, the salon held a raffle and – with the proceeds from salon services – raised almost $3,000 for the center.

“I would love to do more community outreach,” Erica said. “The experience was uplifting and a real highlight for us.”

And she can’t praise the business community enough for its support.

“When we were asking for raffle donations, so many North End businesses didn’t have to think twice about donating,” Erica said. “We received so much support from this community.”

For additional information on joi salon and spa escape, visit www.JoiSalon.com or call 617-723-6330.