Multi-Unit Dairy Queen Franchisee Opens Nikita Hair’s First U.S. Salon in Mason, Ohio

Nikita Hair officially has a presence in the United States, thanks to multi-brand franchise owner Piyush Patel, who owns several other franchise locations, including four Dairy Queen locations (two open and two under construction), as well as two convenience stores.

Since 1984, Nikita Hair has become one of Europe’s leading hair salon groups, and the award-winning beauty brand’s highly skilled hairdressers have served millions of clients.

The salon company was founded by Inger Ellen Nicolaisen, a self-made entrepreneur from humble beginnings. After becoming a mother at the age of 15, Nicolaisen was driven to develop her business skills, at 16 she started her first business selling children’s clothes. In 1984 Nicolaisen opened her first Nikita Hair salon. Since then, Nikita Hair has grown to become one of the largest hair and beauty companies in Europe with 150 salons and over 1,000 employees.

Nikita Hair in the us

Now, Patel has brought the leading European hair salon brand to Mason, Ohio, opening the brand’s first location in the U.S.

“I graduated from college in 2009, right after the financial crisis,” said Patel. “After overcoming that struggle, I ended up buying a restaurant and was the owner for about seven years. Soon, I decided to move into the franchising world and started investing in Dairy Queen franchise locations. I fell in love with franchise ownership, and when it came time to invest in another brand, I wanted to shift away from the food industry and diversify my portfolio. My sister-in-law understands the hair salon industry and introduced me to Nikita Hair. I contacted the team and moved forward from there.”

Patel notes that he was drawn to Nikita Hair franchise ownership for many reasons. “Nikita Hair is extremely popular in Europe, but is a brand new concept in the United States,” he said. “I wanted to invest in a concept that was new and fresh, and was a family-owned business that would create a flexible work/life balance. Also, since I was the very first franchisee, the corporate team provided a great deal of support and also allowed me to make the salon my own. For example, I’ve rolled out digital hair consultations, a make-up station and a relaxation room.”

Franchise benefits and services

Nikita Hair offers franchisees access to sizable revenue and higher-than-industry-standard sales, with a wide range of hair salon-exclusive services as well as an exclusive, professional hair care and skin care product line. The dedicated stylists at Nikita Hair are continuously training in the latest techniques and trends in order to provide the best possible service to every client that walks through the door.

Patel was ready to open the first week of March, but the pandemic hit and delayed the opening. “We started construction in November 2019, but couldn’t open until July,” he said. “Opening has been very challenging because of COVID-19, but we’ve made sure to follow all CDC guidelines, practice social distancing, maintain sanitation practices and train staff on best practices. The corporate team has been incredibly supportive through all of it.”

According to Patel, Mason is a great fit for Nikita Hair. “This city features a very diverse population, and they are really looking to try new things and follow new beauty trends,” he said. “This will be an exciting new opportunity in the community, and these neighborhoods are eager for new services.”

Future growth plans

In the long term, Patel notes that he definitely wants to continue growing his portfolio by opening new Nikita Hair locations in the counties surrounding the Cincinnati area.

“We are thrilled to have successful and experienced franchisees like Piyush Patel filling the need for affordable luxury in the U.S. hair salon industry,” said CEO Andrea Lyman. “The brand has continued to grow despite the pandemic, and we will continue to support franchise owners to ensure that they can offer an excellent client experience.”

Another Nikita Hair salon is currently scheduled to open in Charleston, South Carolina and the brand is looking at Dallas for future development.

With Nikita Hair’s established business model, proven methods and ongoing support, franchisees like Patel are positioned for success and have the opportunity to become a leading force in the growing salon industry.