Check Out Sommer Penny’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sommer Penny. 

Hi Sommer, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Thank you so much for having me. I’m the owner of Milou salon here in Evergreen, CO and am happy to share my story with you. I started doing hair in Los Angeles at a celebrity salon with no experience and loved it instantly. Allen Edwards, famous for creating the “Farrah Fawcett hairstyle” and his team taught me everything about doing hair and the industry. It was an exciting but difficult time for me. I was 21, struggled financially and emotionally, and worked with Allen for five years. I met my husband shortly after and I’ll be forever thankful. After we got married, we moved to Manhattan Beach where I started working at the Bob Roy Salon. I was with Bob and his team for 14 years, where I built my career, working with my best friends, supportive clients, and mastering my craft. I loved my time in MB and honestly never thought I would leave the beach. Once I had two girls to think of, my priorities changed. Violet was 9 and Maizey was 3 when we decided to move to Evergreen. It was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. Now looking back, we left everything we knew and loved to find this gem we call Evergreen. With the move, I hoped to find a better work/life balance. I rebuilt my clientele, and with the support of my family, I bought what is now known as Milou Salon. My vision was to have a high-end salon in our small mountain town, offer the best hair care, equipment, and staff. I love the buzz of a happening salon and I’m proud to say I’ve created that here in Evergreen. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The biggest struggle has been the pandemic. Making the decision to open a salon in July of ‘20, just as Covid was hitting our industry, was demanding. We had to come up with creative ways to try and get our client’s hair needs met. This included making to-go packages of color and supplies that the client could use at home. We would cut hair outside, sometimes during inclement weather, in order to keep the business alive. There were occupancy restrictions in the salon when businesses were starting to open again. And as I’m sure you can imagine, hairstylists work in close proximity to one another and their clientele, so the concern for everyone’s safety was always a top priority for us. Thankfully we have a wonderful community that supported us and understood exactly what we had to endure. We wouldn’t have been successful today if it wasn’t for them. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love to create the whole look: From the color to the cut, and finishing with the style. My favorite part is seeing it all come together and the entire demeanor change with the client. They light up when they see the finished result you’ve made for them. It’s very rewarding for both of us. I’m constantly learning new techniques to stay current in our ever-changing world. My team has inspired me as well. We are always talking new formulas and techniques. Every client is different, so there’s always lots to learn. As a stylist, I pride myself in listening to all my client’s needs. With over 20 years of experience, I can achieve any look as long as I understand what the client wants. I strive to be consistent and reliable, which can sometimes be difficult to find in a stylist. Using the best products and newest technology helps produce the best results, and I’ve stayed true to that philosophy throughout my whole career. 

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Hair is a constantly changing world. With new color formulas being developed, hair tools refined, and products manufactured, we all will benefit from it. I absolutely love my job and look forward to the new styles, trends, and the learning process with the future of the hair industry. 

Contact Info:

• Email: milousalon@gmail.com
• Website: Milousalon.com
• Instagram: Milousalon
• Facebook: Milousalon

Image Credits
Annie Coppock
Kiona Perry