Inside the luxe salon where every haircut comes with a massage

When Athena Riccio decided to open Total Look salon 29 years ago, everyone thought she was mad.

“But I'd been working from home for eight years, and at the time I had post-natal depression and an 18-month-old and I just needed a change,” she recalls.

“So I picked a location on a side street that I thought would be quiet, where I could work two days a week.”

After finding three vacant shopfronts on the corner of Winchester Street and Sixth Avenue in St Peters, she got to work.

“One of the things I love about St Peters is that heritage and the history of the beautiful old homes,” she says, “but that also brings challenges.

“The property had been deserted for years and it was a mess at first – when we began, there was no hot water and clients had to use an outdoor bathroom.

It's a lot more comfortable now, but we kept the sense of history with the original stained glass and the floorboards.” 

On days when the salon wasn't open, Athena's mum ran an arts & crafts store next door and took bookings from clients.

Within months, the salon had grown to include an apprentice and another staff member.

And as Total Look has continued to grow from those humble beginnings, Athena has always tried to make the space as welcoming as possible.

She can still recall how poor the conditions were when she started working as a hairdresser, “so when I opened the salon, I wanted to create a place where everyone got looked after,” she explains.

It's why both staff and customers walk in knowing they'll be treated well, and several employees have been with the salon for more than a decade.

For clients, the experience starts with a friendly welcome, a signature tea and a Visarome massage around the hairline and shoulders.

“A lot of people are in a rush when they come in,” Athena says. “So this gets them to stop and relax a bit.”

As the only South Australian partner of premium French brand La Biosthetique, Total Look staff also undertake regular training sessions here and interstate to keep up with all the latest techniques.

“That means we're very consistent, and everyone gets treated the same,” says Athena.

“That's really important.”

The salon has also evolved over the years, and Total Look lives up to its name with a range of makeup and beauty services.

With waxing and tinting, facials and spray tans all available, “it's a real one-stop shop now, and we have a lot of people come in before formals and weddings,” says Athena.

“They can get their hair, make-up, spray tan and waxing done, then they're free to enjoy the festivities.

Total Look will host its own celebration next year to mark the salon's 30^th birthday.

“After 25 years, we had a party with drinks and nibbles for all the clients so we'll do something similar,” Athena says.

“Some of them have been with me since the very start and they're the ones who have enabled us to be here, so it's really important to celebrate with them.”

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89 Sixth Avenue, St Peters

W: Total Look Hair & Beauty
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