Nikki Stanek and Alyssa Nicolett founded Bloom Salon in 2022, nearly five years after they first met at a hair salon in Stamford. Alyssa was interviewing Nikki for a role, “and we joked that it took like two hours,” says Alyssa with a laugh. They bonded instantly. They discovered they had similar visions for what they wanted a salon to be— they both wanted a strong emphasis on education, and to build a community for both clients and stylists. Over time, their vision came together, and three years ago Bloom opened in a space on the Post Road near Stop & Shop.
The salon was an immediate hit. With Alyssa’s deep bench of color knowledge and Nikki’s expertise in Invisible Bead Extensions (she is a two-time Invisible Bead Award winner), Bloom expanded faster than they ever imagined. In just two short years, they had outgrown their Post Road salon. So when a space opened downtown, at 14 Elm Street, Nikki and Alyssa moved fast. In December of 2024, they opened the new, larger Bloom to clients.
The stunning new space took some of the signatures from their former location— floral wallpaper, jade green— and amped it up, in a look Nikki calls “alternative luxury.” You feel it from the moment you step inside, where a gallery wall and gold velvet couch invite you to embrace the vibes. “It is one of my favorite parts in the space,” says Nikki. “It shows who we are as a team. It’s kind of weird and out there, but also very cohesive and put together.”
The new space also allowed them to hone in on an aesthetic that best fits Bloom as a brand. “When we originally started Bloom, it was green and pink in a girly way. As we've grown, we figured out the vibe that we wanted to portray,” says Nikki. “Now, it’s more green with splashes of pink. It’s darker, moodier.”
And it’s much bigger: they now have 16 stylist stations that are all moveable, which gives them enough room to host up to 50 people for trainings and educations. The floorplan allows the emphasis on education— what they originally bonded over— to remain at the core of what they do. Being downtown is another boon for Bloom: the views of Church Lane’s brick exteriors from the salon chairs have been charming clients and stylists alike.”We’re all very excited to be here,” says Nikki. “Our team loves the downtown atmosphere. They keep saying this is the salon that we deserve.”
Alyssa, Nikki, and their amazing team can’t wait for clients new and old to experience the new Bloom. ”It’s an inviting and fun atmosphere,” says Alyssa. “We love to service our clients and make people feel good. Everyone that works here is very passionate about what they do, and we're here to make work enjoyable. We're all here to have a good time!”
Bloom Salon is now open at 14 Elm St. For more, visit bloomsalonwestport.com