Fox Monroe hair salon opens in former Hair Say premises in Whanganui

Fox Monroe owner Lisa Pepe is excited to have a new business back home in Whanganui.

Fox Monroe hair salon owner Lisa Pepe is back down the road from where it all started.

Pepe began her hairdressing career at Whanganui's Head High salon which, at that time, was located in Ingestre St. Now she has her own salon at 149 Ingestre St in the former Hair Say salon.

"I started hairdressing in Whanganui then went travelling," Pepe said.

"I was in London for a number of years, I had a salon on Waiheke Island for three years, I worked in Auckland and we've been in Melbourne for the last seven years where I had a salon.

"I've done lots of competition work and training, judging competitions and I was a tutor for Servilles in Auckland for a couple of years.

"Now we're home. We have two young children and it was the right time for them to be near family."

Michelle Marshall, who previously owned the salon, will still work there, renting a chair for two days a week.

"I'm really excited to be home, back where I started," Pepe said.

"It's a nice little boutique salon."

The salon's name Fox Monroe reflects the personal significance of "Fox" to Pepe and "Monroe" is a tribute to Marilyn Monroe "who is everything beauty".