chi wah organica : team

​Since 1985, Chi Wah Soo has been on a mission to change the beauty industry in Rochester, NY. Joining the Aveda network in 1988, Chi Wah found that her passion for hair and beauty was supported by a company that understood the importance of using natural ingredients and giving back to the Earth.

In 1989, Chi Wah met her then-husband, Paul Brown, a musician from England who shared her zeal for transformation and understood the significance of giving back to society. Together, they opened their own Aveda concept salon in 1993, making it their goal to change the Rochester Beauty Industry, one stylist at a time.

Chi Wah began an apprenticeship program that has blossomed into one of her greatest accomplishments. All of CWO's employees are skill-certified by Chi Wah herself and trained with the latest and best education available. In 2001, the salon was co-branded with the Aveda name, becoming Chi Wah AVEDA. The salon was awarded “Top 200 Fastest-Growing Salons" by Salon Today magazine in 2005 & 2007, and again in 2019. When the salon moved to Clover Commons plaza in 2009, it changed its name to Chi Wah Organica. CWO was a Top 5 Finalist in the NYS Business Councils, Women & Minority owned Business Award for 2023. 

​the team

chi wah : master stylist

Chi Wah has been at her craft since 1985. She always had a longing to do hair but it wasn't until her thirties that she felt comfortable jumping in. She started her career working under Karen Maccarone at Avatar. There she fell in love with AVEDA, and that began a thirty year relationship with the brand. Chi Wah has a love of learning and has taken years of advanced education all over the world. She has studied with AVEDA, Alexandre de Paris, Arrojo, Deva Curl, Goldwell, Color Space, Back of Bottle, and Hairbrained, as well as others. She has started an apprenticeship program over 20 years ago and has taught most of the Aveda educated stylists in Rochester, many of which now own their own salons - a fact she is very proud of today. Chi Wah has four children and two granddaughters. She loves to tend to her plants, listen to live music, eat exotic food, as well as travel to visit her baby sister Mimi whenever & wherever possible. 

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salena : senior stylist

Salena grew up in the beauty industry. Her mother, Chi Wah, always had her in the salons as a child. As an adult, Salena started working at Chi Wah Organica after moving back home from attending the University of Delaware in 2005 and has been part of the CWO family ever since.  After a few years managing the salon, she decided to attend Cosmetology school and graduated in 2008. Since then, Salena continues furthering her education with Aveda, and has taken classes at Arrojo, Color Space & Back of Bottle. Salena loves that her career has brought her to many fun cities as she loves to travel. She spends most of her free time with her partner Paul and their children, Miles, Viola, Ophelia & Freyja, as well as their Shiba Inu's Lola and Odin.  Salena loves tending to her garden, working out with her peloton community, is an avid Podcast listener (she's an armcherry) as well as reading all things "Maasverse". 

heather: stylist & barber

Heather started her hairstyling career after having an entire career in the US Air Force. After returning home and going to cosmetology school, she started apprenticing with Bronwyn Summit at Tru Salon (now owner of Natura Salon), who was Chi Wah's very first apprentice (and 1st salon daughter). She had taken some time off to raise her children and came back behind the chair with us at Chi Wah Organica in 2017. She has a love of learning and in 2021 she went back to school and became CWO's licensed Barber. Her hobbies include tending to her massive vegetable garden, camping, crafting, painting, going to BSB concerts with Salena and of course family time with her six children. She is also Chi Wah's 2nd salon daughter.

paige : apprentice

Paige came to us at the most perfect time. She was attending Empire beauty school part-time and working as a waitress when one of our salon clients became one of her regular customers. He encouraged her to apply at our salon, feeling like she would be the perfect fit, and he was right (thanks Hoyt)!!  Paige has 15 years of customer service experience. She grew up watching her grandmother in the beauty industry and always dreamed it would be where she would land. During the pandemic she took a braiding class online, and that inspired her to apply to school. She graduated in early 2022 and has been Apprenticing & Assisting Chi Wah and the other stylists ever since. In her free time, Paige loves to dance and swim. She also enjoys trivia nights, food festivals, traveling, spending time with her family and friends, and all things Disney! 

gabrielle : apprentice

Gabby is a proud graduate of Mercyhurst University, where she earned her degree in Biology. While science was her academic foundation, her true passion has always been creativity—especially when it comes to hair. After graduating college in May 2024, Gabby decided to follow that passion and began her journey into the beauty industry by attending cosmetology school. She officially graduated in 2025 and quickly began working, where she strengthened and refined her blow-drying techniques and overall skill set behind the chair.
Gabby loves combining creativity with connection, helping clients feel confident and cared for. Outside of the salon, she enjoys arts and crafts, painting, and recently picked up crocheting as a new creative outlet. When she’s not creating, you can find her spending quality time with her friends and family. Gabby is excited to continue growing as a stylist and sharing her passion with every client she meets.

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jessica : customer care

Jessica grew up in her mother's nail salon and fell in love with the beauty industry. She began her career path in 2017 while attending WTCC and received her cosmetology license in September 2019. Jessica has previously worked with Aveda and loves how exclusive and diverse the brand is. She enjoys creating a welcoming environment for clients and sharing her knowledge with them. In her free time, she loves to travel, listen to live music and try new food. 

JOIN OUR TEAM
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Chi Wah Organica is an accepting, all inclusive, mindful, professional, education driven, and career orientated Aveda Concept salon in Rochester, New York. Our Mission is to build a culture that promotes wellness, that strives for the highest form of team service, and nurtures creativity. All while creating a truly caring and unparalleled experience for ever guest, everyday. We are always growing and have the opportunity available for an accountable, motivated, team member looking to grow their career with us.

We offer Advanced Education to develop your technical skills.
​We have an in house apprenticeship program that is offered to all staff regardless of your prior training, where you will learn our foundations of cutting and multidimensional coloring.
​We offer full and part time positions with a cooperative team atmosphere that will support you in growing your business.
We hold quarterly career and personal goal sessions to further your personal growth, development, and success.

If you are looking to join our team, please click below to email us your resume and set up an appointment for an interview!

JOIN OUR TEAM

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