COVER STORY | Blossoming Brands: Malorie Elleson, Oswego/Yorkville

Local Mom Shares Her Creative Passion for ME Hair Salon Suite, Meet Malorie Elleson

OSWEGO/YORKVILLE–When Malorie Elleson opened her salon, she wanted to create something unique, setting herself apart from the typical "Hair by ___" names. Using her initials, she launched ME Hair Salon Suite, which quickly became known for playful phrases like "Check ME Out" and "You found ME!"

With over eleven years of experience in various salon environments, from corporate settings to upscale salons and chair rentals, Malorie is now thrilled to offer her clients a more personalized and private experience as a business owner.

Outside of work, Malorie is a devoted mother to a lively 3-year-old daughter, and a wife of six years to her husband, who hails from Ottawa and runs the family business, Steve’s Bakery.

A huge fan of Game of Thrones, Malorie also shares her home in Yorkville with a playful German Shepherd and two cats, Minnie and Mickey.

What's trending for promoting your business via social media?  How do you engage your audience with social media?

This has become ‘my’ Jam! I utilize local Facebook pages to promote my business, which has gained 80% of my clientele, and is growing! I use Facebook and Instagram as my portfolio, so I take pictures, videos, create reels of before and after, reels of a life in the salon, and just for fun stuff too! This keeps my clients, and I say clients, not followers, because I’m not trying to be an “influencer” I’m trying to engage with people that I’m actually going to see in person. It makes me feel good about my silly reels when a client walks in and says “I saw that reel you made about ___”.  That’s how I know my clients are not forgetting about ME, and I’m entertaining them in between hair appointments. Sometimes they’re more than likely to share a silly reel, thus referring me to another new client.  I use ‘before and afters’ as part of my portfolio, and the cute fun reels showcase my personality.

What is hot in hair trends for Spring/Summer 2025?

 A lot of my clients are taking a couple inches off, so haircuts either below the collar bone or haircuts resting at their shoulders.  Also going lighter and brighter for the summer/spring will probably always be in style, so Highlights Galore!

What is trending in 2025 for the overall look?

Weft Hair Extensions are very much in style and trending! For instance, I know a lot of people watched ‘Mornan Moms’ on Hulu, and they all have Weft Hair Extensions!  I’m certified in four different types of hair extensions by Dream Catchers, and the WEFT is the MOST popular to add fullness and density to the hair and add length! 

BLUNT cuts are very much in style! With a little bit of face framing or a long curtain bang. A lot of clients are going back to their “roots” meaning it’s in style to be your natural hair color right now.  The slight little money piece is very much in style still, just enough to frame the face. 

Sleeping in a silk bonnet is very much in style and very good for the hair!

What's your favorite brand of hair products?

I use a variety of different brands in my salon; but I did go to a RedKen school, so I will always love my RedKen,  I also use Verb products, Curl Can Dream by Matrix, Brass Off by Matrix, It’s and 10 Leave in, and Olaplaex.

What's your favorite hairstyle to design?

I grew up watching ‘What Not To Wear’ on TLC, which inspired me to become a hairstylist, because I loved the ‘Before and Afters’ and the ‘Grand Reveals!’

I love when my clients come in looking one way and leave like a new person, because I do it all, lived in color, blonding, hair extensions, haircuts for the whole family, and boy perms!

What is your personal "go-to" hairstyle for a quick, yet cute?

 look?

My quick go to look that works for most clients is a blunt cut, maybe a long layer in there, with a long curtain bang, and a partial highlight, then finishing off their style with a light curl.

 -Kristen Kucharski

Photo Credit: Jess Gamache, ‘Gamache Photo + Film’ 3