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KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Walk into The Main Salon today and you’ll still feel a lot of what it’s always been about since it first opened its doors in 1990—familiar faces, steady hands, and a place where clients tend to stick around for years, sometimes decades.
The salon was founded by Wanda Riley and Joanne Stark, both connected to the Keene Beauty Academy at the time. Riley, who taught there, reportedly wanted a way to bring some of her strongest students into a real-world salon environment right away. That idea became the foundation for what would turn into a 36-year (and counting) local business.
The original spot was at 89 Main Street, right in the downtown mix near the Colonial Theatre and neighboring shops. It was a smaller setup—seven stylists, a handful of stations, and the kind of early-‘90s salon services you’d expect: perms, basic cuts, styling, and the classics.
By 1994, business was strong enough that the salon moved into a larger space, giving the team more room to grow. That move marked a turning point—more chairs, more services, and more ability to keep up with a growing client base that was already starting to feel more like a community than just appointments on a calendar.
Ownership shifted in 1995 when Kim Secore took over, leading the salon for 17 years. Secore helped guide the business through changing trends in hair and beauty while keeping its core identity intact. Today, the salon is owned by Erin Foster, who has been at the helm for the past three years.
Even with new ownership over time, one thing hasn’t really changed: the staff tends to stay. The salon has grown from its original seven stylists to a larger team, but turnover has stayed low, which clients definitely notice.
“It’s become more than just a workplace—it’s a family,” Foster said in describing the atmosphere, pointing to the long-running relationships between stylists and clients.
That sense of familiarity is something customers mention again and again in online reviews. One recent review put it simply: “They really care about the community and are genuinely amazing people.” Another said, “Best customer service in Keene. They treat you like family.”
That “family” word comes up a lot when people talk about the salon, and it’s not hard to see why. Stylists don’t just rotate in and out—they build long-term relationships with clients, sometimes seeing them through major life milestones over the years. In some cases, multiple generations of the same family come through the doors.
The services have also evolved quite a bit since the early days. While perms and basic cuts are still part of the menu, today’s offerings include coloring, highlights, hair extensions, waxing, manicures, and pedicures. The nail services have shifted toward gel polish options rather than traditional tips, reflecting how client preferences have changed over time.
Foster noted that keeping things affordable has always been part of the salon’s approach. “We try to keep prices realistic,” she said, explaining that accessibility has been key to maintaining a steady, loyal clientele even as more salons have opened in Keene over the years.
And there are more salons now—far more than when The Main Salon first opened. Staff recall a time when there were only a handful in town, compared to what is now a much more competitive local market. Still, the salon has managed to hold its place, largely through consistency, word of mouth, and long-term relationships.
Hours have also shifted with the times. The salon used to be open seven days a week, but now closes Sundays and Mondays. That change came, in part, from shifting client habits—fewer late-night outings, more structured work schedules, and a general move toward weekday and early-evening appointments.
There’s also been a noticeable change in how people book and plan their visits. Clients are often coming in after work now, with many appointments scheduled around 5:30 p.m. or later. The salon adjusted its schedule to match that reality rather than trying to fight it.
Even with those operational changes, the vibe inside hasn’t really shifted. It still feels like a place where people know each other—where stylists know their clients’ families, and clients know each other from years of overlapping appointments in the same chairs.
That continuity is part of what has kept The Main Salon going for more than three decades. It’s not just about haircuts or color—it’s about showing up for people over time, in a way that feels personal and steady in a business that can otherwise change quickly.