Community Highlights: Meet Megan Perry of Soak Haus Scalp Spa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Perry

Hi Megan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Wow! Where do I begin…… I have been licensed for 15 years in the hair industry. But that was cultivated at a young age. When I was 16 I was diagnosed with DFSP which is a malignant form of cancer. I would sit for hours in front of a mirror doing my hair and makeup to mask what I was feeling. I think really that is what started it all. I wanted to make people look and feel good about themselves despite what was actually their reality. I went to the Paul Mitchell School of Raleigh where I graduated from Phase 2 ( sort of like the honors program). From there I was accepted into a specialty hair school at the Mastery by Esani. We studied subjects like Avant Garde, Mens cutting, Wig ventilation and Editorial styling. It was there I guess that I really learned the art of the wash house experience and really mastered my shampoo etiquette. I have worked in the film and entertainment industry, for photographers and been published twice. After Covid is when I think things changed for me and my salon career. People were hurting in so many facets and it really showed. I started off with the idea of silent Mondays. An option for my guests to come in for a relaxing shampoo experience that didn’t require talking from either party. Just a safe place to settle down and relax from all of life’s worries. It was wonderful except for the fact that salons really became a 7 day a week kind of thing after Covid because we all worked whenever we could. Soak Haus Scalp Spa became an idea, a dream on my pinterest board. I would add different design ideas, color palettes and just visions that I wanted to cultivate. My lease was ending for my salon and my husband and I decided we wanted to build something and grow from the ground up and Soak Haus was born!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I definitely wouldn’t say it was a smooth road. We are trailblazers at the moment and really paving the way for ourselves. I did ALOT and I mean a lot of research on beds, products and education as well as market research to see what was out there. Ultimately we decided to go full Japanese with us being a Japanese Scalp Spa. I would say plumbing was probably one of the hardest things we had to deal with. Our beds are Japanese and custom made……. with that being said all of the instructions were in Japanese and so were the plumbing fittings. My husband Jeff and I probably spent a full week on our first bed trying to configure the plumbing. It was very tense and frustrating to say the least. Another hurdle we had was when we decided to expand an open our second suite the Baltimore port was closed due to the bridge collapsing. So our equipment was delayed an additional two weeks. Our order was split up and some went South and some went North. It was super stressful trying to track it all down and figure out when we would actually receive it. Lastly I would say licensure; every state is different as to who State Board allows to perform the services. It literally varies from state to state and there is a lot of miscommunication out there.

As you know, we’re big fans of Soak Haus Scalp Spa. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are Soak Haus Scalp Spa, an exclusive Japanese scalp spa meaning we strictly focus on scalp facials. We offer luxury private suites for our guests to enjoy their services. Our current menu offers 60, 90 and 120 minute scalp facial options and will soon include and 30 minute express option. We are known for our relaxing environment and calming atmosphere. I worked very hard to create a very welcoming and warm environment for our guests to feel truly at peace. We are Japanese through and through from our methods of scalp manipulations to our product line we use down to the beds you lay on during your service. At Soak Haus we are more than just hair though; we are mind, body and soul truly. We have created a beautiful space to ease your mind allowing your body to fully relax and when you leave you truly feel rejuvenated and the most relaxed you have probably ever been. Our services are silent which means we do not speak during the session to allow our guest an opportunity to feel like they do not have to perform. Obviously there is some talking involved during the consultation but ultimately it is a silent service. Alot of our guests love that due to todays world having constant contact 24/7. Its really wonderful to have a space where you can truly escape.

What matters most to you? Why?
Most of my life I have worked in customer service. I feel like over the years I have seen a real decline in the customer interaction. So I would say that quality and customer service are what matter most to me when it comes to the spa. I want everyone to feel comfortable and special and I work very hard to make sure that happens. Obviously I am human and make mistakes but I try very hard to learn from them. Our spa is family owned and run. We are all heavily involved and want it to succeed. It really is the littles things. We try to walk in everyday with fresh eyes and make sure everything is on point and that we make every guest feel like their needs were met.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://soakhausnc.glossgenius.com
• Instagram: soak.haus.nc
• Facebook: soak haus scalp spa