Eric Marshall Wright's very first hair salon client, Lynn, still comes to him for services. As stylist and owner of Eric Marshall Salon at 4311 Harding Pike, he says that makes him feel more than grateful.
"I've always had a passion for hair," reveals this Nashville native, whose team offers cuts, color, root touch-ups, hi-lighting, blow drying/styling and extension services for men and women.
In fact, Eric went straight to cosmetology school after graduating from the Nashville School of the Arts. He assisted for a year after completing his program, and says he continues to value his education outside of the salon.
Grey coverage and removing weight from dense hair are two of Eric's main pursuits. He credits his mother, who has thick hair, for his love of creating hair movement and softness. "I actually love mature hair and dry cutting. Everyone's eventually going to go grey, so we might as well handle it gracefully together."
As an intimate, Davines-exclusive salon for hair care, Eric says he and his staff wholeheartedly embrace this brand's commitment to sustainable beauty that provides hair care and styling products that are free of parabens, silicones and sulphates. Founded in Parma, Italy, in 1983 by the Bollati Family, Davines Group started as a research laboratory, producing high-end hair care products for renowned cosmetic companies worldwide. After a decade of honing their expertise, they began creating their own brand of Davines hair care products exclusively for salons. Much of what consumers appreciate about Davines' products is that they are up to 96 percent biodegradable.
"We enjoy bringing a little of Italy to Nashville," Eric quips.
Indeed, Eric is headed back to Italy at the end of October to complete a second, six-day advanced training with Davines with dozens of hairstylists from around the globe. He completed the first, six-day training portion this July. While there, attendees do a deep-dive into hair-related theories, scientific chemistry and elevated thinking and approaches to hair coloring, including the latest discoveries about how hair grows. In January, he will complete a test to hopefully become an "international color genius."
Eric's team also carries Emogene & Co. skin care and Denman brushes. He actually won a national competition through Denman, and serves as a brand ambassador.
Because many of the Eric Marshall Salon clients are professionals, Eric says they all enjoy having detailed conversations about what each one learns through various classes that cover different business sectors. "I always want to grow as I age," he adds.
When opening the salon within a historic Belle Meade building in April 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Eric says the situation meshed well with his plans to start small and build. Prior, he co-owned a salon in Midtown, but says taking business classes inspired him to open his own salon. Joining him became CJ Asselin, a color specialist and hairstylist who relocated to Nashville from Los Angeles. Assisting Eric currently is Caroline Shaw, also a hairstylist, who graduated from Franklin Hair Academy during this past January.
"CJ, Caroline and I happily work as a team, providing each other with second opinions and sharing our knowledge because we truly enjoy striving to make our clients' hair dreams into realities," Eric states.
Salon Hours of Operation:
Tuesdays through Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fridays: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sundays and Mondays: Closed
615.801.3802
EricMarshallSalon.com
