PEABODY — Local hair stylist Stephanie Agneta is packing her bags and flying to Paris, where she will be displaying her work at Paris Fashion Week.
At only 28 years old, Agneta recently celebrated her 10-year anniversary co-owning Salon CC on Bourbon Street with her mother, Rochelle. She graduated from Peabody Veterans Memorial High School with her cosmetology license and went into business with her mom as a graduation gift.
“I graduated with my license, and my mom said, ‘Do you want a party, a car, or do you want to go into business together?’ And I said, ‘Well, long-term, I think going into business together is the right move,’” Agneta said. Her mom manages the business end of the salon, while she manages the salon itself, which offers hair, nail, skin care and various other self-care and beautification services.
Outside of the salon, Agneta has worked on the sets of small movie productions for colleges and traveled for New York Fashion Week. She spends time as an educator for other stylists, specializing in wigs, hair extensions and DESIGNME Hair products. She is also a social media influencer and posts photos and videos of her work on her Instagram account, @littlesalonmagic.
In Paris, Agneta will be on a team of 60 hair stylists, from Wednesday, Sept. 25 to Friday, Sept. 27. Out of the 60 stylists, Agneta is one of three stylists asked to create a piece of avant-garde work — experimental and wearable — for a model on the runway. She will be accompanying the model wearing her artwork as they walk down the runway at Paris Fashion Week.
“I never thought I would get to do something like that,” she said.
She said she built the hair piece with hot glue, pipe cleaners and synthetic hair, all in two days. “It’s like a big hair crown.” It is inspired by singer/songwriter Melanie Martinez’s style.
Agneta said she was recruited by a production company, The Lab, for New York Fashion Week two years ago and was asked again to be at Paris Fashion Week.
“After New York, I gained a lot more confidence in myself and my business, and I want to share that with my team,” she said. “I’m still learning. I don’t think there’s ever an end. You’re always going to grow, and you’re always going to change.”
She said she had a lot of unexpected downtime at New York Fashion Week and has planned a 10-day trip filled with sightseeing and a side-trip to Belgium to see Melanie Martinez in concert.
Whether you find her at Salon CC or see pictures of her walking down the runway next to a model at Paris Fashion Week, Agneta has a smile on her face.
“I just want to spread more magic and sparkles,” she said.
