Vicki Vidov's mother opened the Vidov West Salon in 1983, “a small, three-chair space where all three women smoked cigarettes and did perms for $45," Vidov says. "I remember being jealous of my mom's clients—they got to see this fun side of her. I wanted to enjoy my job as much as she enjoyed hers.” A few years later, Vidov went to beauty school to chase that dream.
After venturing out on her own to learn the business side of things, Vidov returned to the beauty world to help her mom transform the West Village space into a 10-chair salon that quickly became one of the hottest in the area. But it didn't come without challenges. Thanks to sky-high taxes, the pair was eventually pushed out of the space. "We managed to stay close, and with our loyal clients and staff support, we are finally back on one of the best streets in the West Village: Charles Street between Hudson and Bleecker," Vidov says. They opened just before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Situated in a red brick building with larger-than-life French doors, Vidov West Salon is truly an oasis in the middle of a bustling city. "We keep the doors open on beautiful days and let the indoor palm trees sway in the breeze,” Vidov says. Inside, clients will find a sleek, white space with warm wood, beautiful mirrors and cement floors. “There are plants everywhere, and you’re instantly drawn in by the natural aroma of lemon and eucalyptus,” she adds. You might also catch a whiff of Oribe’s signature scent floating around the salon.
Growing up with a front row seat to the salon world, and eventually becoming part of it herself, Vidov has learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way. “This year, especially, I have learned that your business is a relationship, and in this relationship, there are many family members that you get to choose,” Vidov says. “The most important part of your business is choosing your family with love, kindness, understanding and respect. I give to my staff what I expect in return—love,” she adds. “And I refer to the salon as ‘ours.’ It’s never just ‘mine.’ I am in a relationship with my business, and our passion for each other is what keeps us fighting for it. It’s probably the healthiest relationship I’ve ever been in.”