Meet Jenny Malibu: Salon Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenny Malibu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenny, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I don’t think about risks. I just do and live in the present moment. Life is too short to give in to negative thoughts. Always follow your dreams and things will always work out!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It was always my dream to own a salon. I’ve always been obsessed with makeovers and the world of beauty! I love the salon environment thanks to the movie, “Earth Girls Are Easy” and would play salon with my Barbies as a little girl! My story with mariemarie began as one of the original client’s of Marie Hansen, the founder of mariemarie salon. The salon became a scared place to me and it has been amazing to watch the salon grow since the beginning. In 2017, I got the opportunity to be the receptionist for the salon and loved finally being a real part of my favorite salon. Then, in 2018, my husband Mike and I became the new owners of mariemarie salon. Owning a salon is a dream come true but has come with many challenges. People don’t always see all the work that goes on behind the scenes of running a salon. As the owner I’m responsible for salon communications, marketing, management and public relations. Helping our stylists thrive with their business is our business. Since I’ve been the owner I’ve had my share of professional & personal struggles. While running a salon, I lost my dad, became a mom to my precious son Adriel, and fought to stay open during a pandemic as safely as possible.
The key to my success is my resilience, perseverance, and my awesome salon family and husband. I would be nowhere if it wasn’t for these amazing and talented people. Amanda, Adryana, Ania, Shay, Lauren, Katie, Debi, Lindze and Kasey are more than my coworkers, they are family! I think what sets us apart from other salons is our genuine love for our clients, they are part of our mariemarie family. We are all big music lovers too so we create an awesome atmosphere inside the salon full of life and sound! I really do feel like Julie Brown in the salon scene from, Earth Girls Are Easy.”

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Whenever my friends visit the city, I of course recommend mariemarie salon for a much needed beauty treatment! Then once we look fabulous, I like to take them out to eat at one of the many amazing restaurants in Atlanta. Some of my favorites are Patria Cocina, Hotto Hotto, Ria’s Bluebird, Little Bear, Wood’s Chapel BBQ and The Earl. My friends and I are big thrifters and vintage lovers so we like to hit up all the thrift stores, antique shops, record stores and second hand stores. Some of my favorites are Highland Row Antiques, Rock It Vintage, Kudzu Antiques, Wax N Facts and Criminal Records. I like to end the night with some fabulous cocktails. My favorite places for cocktails are the tiki inspired bars like The S.O.S. Tiki Bar and Trader Vic’s in downtown. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to Brittany Godfrey for nominating me, my husband Mike Michalski for being my business partner and biggest supporter, and my mariemarie salon family for all the love and support.

Website: www.mariemariesalon.com

Instagram: instagram.com/mariemariesalon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariemariesalon

Yelp: yelp.com/biz/mariemarie-salon-atlanta

Image Credits
Kaylinn Gilstrap, Jill Veysey, Danielle Thompson and Lori Manis