Society Beauty Bar Points to Independent Ownership Behind Its Growth

Arlington, United States – July 13, 2026 / Society Beauty Bar /

Society Beauty Bar Marks Growth With Two Woman-Led Salon Locations

Society Beauty Bar, a woman-owned hair salon serving the greater Boston area, continues to grow as an independently operated business with two boutique locations in Arlington Heights and Belmont Center, Massachusetts. Founded by Laura Khesin, the salon has built its presence across two residential, community-oriented towns without outside investment or a franchise model, relying instead on an independent ownership structure that keeps decision-making and day-to-day operations close to the guest experience.

Khesin opened the first Society Beauty Bar location in Arlington Heights before expanding to a second salon in Belmont Center, two towns known for their walkable town centers, local businesses, and tight-knit residential character. Rather than pursuing a large-scale commercial footprint, Khesin has focused on maintaining two distinct, boutique-style salons, each shaped by the community surrounding it. Industry data continues to show that women-owned businesses make up a growing share of the beauty and personal care sector nationally, and the sustained operation of a woman-owned hair salon in the Boston market reflects that broader pattern of independent ownership within the industry.

Both locations offer a full range of hair services, with particular focus on custom color work, including balayage, hand-painted highlights, and lived-in color techniques, along with cuts, conditioning treatments, and smoothing services. Khesin has structured the business around a guest-first, boutique format, positioning the salon as an alternative to larger commercial chains. As an independently owned salon, Society Beauty Bar has also built a reputation within its stylist team, offering mentorship and career development for hairstylists in a smaller, more collaborative studio environment.

Laura Khesin, Founder of Society Beauty Bar, said the growth of the business into two separate communities reflects a deliberate approach to ownership. “Building two salons that each feel like they belong to their neighborhood was always more important to me than opening as many locations as possible,” Khesin said. “Arlington Heights and Belmont Center are different communities, and I wanted each salon to reflect that rather than looking and feeling identical.”

The continued operation of both locations comes at a time when many small, independently owned service businesses face pressure from larger regional and national chains. Khesin’s approach, maintaining full ownership and a boutique-scale model across two locations rather than scaling through outside capital, aligns with a broader trend of independent operators choosing controlled, community-focused growth over rapid expansion. For consumers evaluating where to receive hair services, the distinction between an independently owned woman-owned salon and a larger corporate chain has become an increasingly relevant factor, particularly for those who prioritize supporting local ownership.

Society Beauty Bar’s model also extends to its approach to staffing and stylist development. Rather than operating as a purely transactional business, the salon has positioned itself as a training ground for stylists early in their careers, pairing them with more experienced colleagues in a mentorship structure. This approach has allowed the business to build a stable team across both locations while continuing to prioritize the guest experience that has defined the brand since its founding.

As a woman-owned salon, Society Beauty Bar continues to serve residents of Arlington Heights, Belmont Center, and the surrounding Boston-area communities with a boutique approach to hair services. More information about the salon’s founder and ownership structure is available on the woman-owned salon page of its website.

Who is Society Beauty Bar?

logo of Society Beauty Bar

Society Beauty Bar is a full-service hair salon with two locations in Arlington Heights and Belmont Center, Massachusetts. Founded by Laura Khesin, the salon specializes in custom hair coloring, including balayage and lived-in color techniques, along with cuts, conditioning treatments, and smoothing services, and operates as an independently owned business within the greater Boston beauty industry.