Stephanie Spear 
Renovaré isn’t your typical hair salon, and that’s the point. Founder Stephanie Lindemuth says that from a business perspective, the salon is the embodiment of everything she wishes she had as a young stylist, and from a client perspective, the salon is whatever the client needs it to be, from a fun, upbeat vibe to a quiet, restful mood. The salon is located at 10650 Main Street, Suite 201, in Fairfax and opened in Summer 2025. Read on for more with Stephanie and to learn what makes Renovaré special.
The Journey
Stephanie Lindemuth was born and raised in Northern Virginia. “I always knew I wanted to open a salon,” she said. “As a kid I loved to do arts and crafts and create things, and hair was a natural progression of that.” Stephanie started working at a salon in high school and went on to earn her cosmetology degree, and later, a degree in sociology from George Mason University.
Stephanie Lindemuth. Image courtesy of @jennagelowdesigns
Stephanie worked as a salon assistant the whole time she was in cosmetology school, and said that as a young stylist, she had no support or mentorship where she was working. “No one in my family was a stylist; I didn’t really have anyone to look up to or to help me get started from the business side of things,” she said. “I got straight As in cosmetology school, but it was as if none of that mattered when I started working.”
She eventually left the salon world and rented a salon suite where she could see clients individually. “I still knew I wanted to open my own salon,” Stephanie said. The suite was a stepping stone of sorts: it got her out of the difficult salon environment, but she could still see clients. “Some of my clients have been with me the whole time – 18 years!” she said.
Read more: Falls Church’s Treehouse for Vintage Lovers
When COVID happened, Stephanie had to pause her business. Her two children were born, and during her recoveries, she read everything she could about starting a business. “Getting to this point [of opening the salon] felt like it was a long time coming,” she said. “I poured everything I learned from reading into this, and everything I wish I had had when I was starting out.”
Image courtesy of @jennagelowdesigns
Stephanie found the space in early 2025 and opened the salon in June 2025. The word renovaré is Latin and means to renew, restore, or revive, which is at the heart of the salon’s concept.
The Experience
Renovaré is designed as a retreat-style space, intentional in every detail for decompression and relaxation. Live plants soften the space, while coloring books and colored pencils are available for clients to doodle in while their color processes. “I want to set people up so they can make the most of their time,” Stephanie said. “Clients might not make a lot of time for self-care; this hair appointment might be all they get, so I want to maximize that.”
See more: Creative Collective Holiday Pop Up at Fairfax Corner Now Open
The idea of “filling your own cup” also extends to her perspective as a business owner and team leader. “It’s important to me to invest in my team,” she said. “I want them to feel good about working here.” Some of the ways in which Stephanie supports the team are closing for the week in between Christmas and New Year’s, including Christmas Eve Day; ongoing training on new techniques; career mentorship; and training in soft skills like active listening. “We’re not therapists, but we hear a lot. It can be intense,” she said. “And I want to focus on giving my team to have the emotional tools to manage that.” The stylist’s schedules are also flexible, and the salon is open only on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
The same range of options applies to the client experience as well. Even for simple treatments like a blowout, clients can choose to have a silent appointment, which people like because it removes the expectation of having to chat with their stylist. “Some people want to come in and chat, and other times they’re not in the mood,” Stephanie said. “We’ll work with whatever they’ve got.” There’s even the option for a sensory deprivation appointment, which includes an eye mask and earphones to mute sound and light. “I was inspired by the sensory deprivation tanks,” Stephanie said.
View this post on Instagram
The weighted blankets, lavender eye pillows, and reclining chairs at the hair wash station are another example of the purposeful ways Stephanie has considered clients’ comfort. Cut and color services for men and women are available. Stephanie anticipates adding another day of the week to the business’s schedule in the future, as well as bridal hair services. The salon specializes in using clean products for traditional services, which, to Stephanie, means being mindful of the ingredients. Stephanie currently has three other stylists on the team, joined by Master Aesthetician Radoslava Regan, who offers premium skincare services.
Renovare is by appointment only, which can be made online.
Follow @thefairfaxgirl on Instagram + TikTok for the latest Northern Virginia updates, and check out our events calendar, which has over 100+ events weekly to peruse.
