From bracelets, crystals, makeup, hair care and much more, Scisters Salon & Apothecary offers a plethora of unique and sustainable products and services as San Diego’s first zero-waste salon.
Co-owned and operated by best friends Melissa Parker and Easton Bajsec since 2010, the duo prioritizes easily recognizable ingredients and eliminating toxins for one’s wellness and beauty routine.
Both Parker and Bajsec grew up in San Diego and decided to go to business school together after working at the same salon. While pursuing their degrees, their friendship blossomed and they discovered the similarities between their passions and standards.
“We had a project in our entrepreneur class to write a business plan and we did that together,” Parker said. “We realized that we had the same values and wanted the same things and now, here we are.”
Located at 7957 University Ave., the business first began as a traditional salon. But, after continuous research and dedication, Parker and Bajsec were able to bring their eco-friendly vision to life, including services such as Reiki and sugaring.
“We transitioned to being zero waste about four and a half years ago and that transition was a lot of research,” Bajsec said. “I really thought I could find a model within the industry [but] it didn’t exist.”
Because they couldn’t find a line agreeing with their philosophies, Parker and Bajsec created their own brand, Element. Working with a lab and chemists, the pair focused on natural, organic and toxin-free products, which are housed in their apothecary in bulk.
Customers can choose their bottle, fill it with a product and come back when it’s time to refill — using the same packaging repeatedly and only paying for what’s inside.
“We wanted to make it so the everyday person could naturally and very easily make zero waste decisions and that they perform just as well as their traditional product,” Bajsec said.
The brand contains 10 products, with a variety to choose from, such as shampoo, conditioner, styling cream and much more. While the Element shelves are regularly visited, the apothecary houses brands beyond Parker and Bajsec’s creation.
Among the other shelves are reusable sponges and razors, organic toothpaste, non-toxic nail polish, candles and other green beauty and wellness items. Many featured companies are women owned, vegan, cruelty free and designed for sensitive skin.
“Other [products] we want to bring in, we just make sure it has the same standards for their business as we have for our own product line,” Bajsec said. “It has to be infinitely recyclable packaging or package free. We try to source things as locally as possible. If we can find something women-owned we’ll choose that first.”
A free library is also available for customers to enjoy.
“We’re very intentional about the environment we curate here,” Parker explained. “We wanted it to be different in that it is very safe and peaceful. You’ll find books instead of gossip-y magazines and we’ll have deeper conversations that are more about getting to know somebody.”
Dr. Veronica Solaris has been coming to the salon and apothecary since roughly 2015 and values their sustainable practices.
“The feeling of being here is very soothing and I appreciate that they own a place where they continuously learn and educate others,” Solaris explained. “They’re a part of the solution and not the problem [which] makes them stand out and I appreciate their effort.”
A complete list of their services, products, values and more can be found at: scisters.com/.
Regardless of whether one uses the salon, the apothecary and refill store are open to all.
With knowledgeable staff that concur with Parker and Bajsec’s mission, Scisters Salon & Apothecary can assist anyone with implementing convenient and effective zero-waste daily practices.
Photos by Jessica Mills
