Nikita Hair Signs New Franchisees in Frisco, Texas

The path that led couple Alex Farina and Dr. Laurie Rilling to become franchisees with Nikita Hair is a fun one. It’s full of chance encounters, moving to new places and, most importantly, teamwork.

The duo have known each other since their high school days in Long Island, when they dated. After going their separate ways, the universe brought them back together, and now they call Frisco, Texas home. Rilling is a clinical neuropsychologist and Farina is a veteran hair stylist. Farina has decades of experience in working with some of the industry’s top brands, participating in hair shows, and teaching up-and-coming stylists the ins and outs of the industry. 

“I bring a lot of experience in the hair world to our business,” said Farina. “I also have an unwavering passion for the industry, having been a stylist for so long. I love what I do, and I’m excited about the opportunity to bring Nikita Hair to the Frisco area.”

The duo makes a great team, and Farina’s experience in the industry as well as Rilling’s work as a psychologist is an ideal combination for establishing a salon that creates the atmosphere Nikita Hair provides its clients. 

“Dallas is a booming market, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring the Nikita Hair brand there with Alex and Laurie at the helm,” said Andrea Lyman, CEO of Nikita Hair. “They make such a great team, and we’re confident that they’ll be able to grow the brand in the market through its proven business model and strong experience that they bring to the table.”

How Teamwork Makes the Dream Work at Nikita Hair

Farina and Rilling were first introduced to the idea of franchising by the seasoned salon franchise pro Mark Kartarik. 

“I had a lot of interaction with Mark when I was at Regis, and he approached me about the opportunity to franchise with Nikita Hair,” explained Farina. “I always thought a franchise would be a great way to open a salon, especially for me because I am so much more interested in providing a great culture for stylists and clients, and being able to operate off a blueprint that’s proven to be an effective business model was really appealing. The values and philosophy of Nikita Hair are so much aligned with my own, that it really made sense to become a franchisee with the brand.”

Farina and Rilling value Nikita Hair’s unique environment, for franchisees, stylists and clients. “What really sealed the deal for us was opening a salon that already had a concept and culture in place from the second the guests walked through the door until they left,” said Farina. “Plus, as a first-time business owner, I felt that the route of franchising would give me the support I needed to feel confident and comfortable in taking these first steps in entrepreneurship.”

As they start their new journey as franchisees, Farina and Rilling bring complementary strengths and professional experiences. While Farina is getting his first taste of what it’s like to own a business, Rilling comes from a family of entrepreneurs.

“My family previously owned their own business, so I have that experience and entrepreneurial background,” she said. “In fact, when Alex and I dated in high school and college, he worked in my parent’s dry-cleaning business.”

Although they haven’t opened the doors of their salon yet, Farina and Rilling know they have already been set on a pathway to success. 

“Mark has had so much experience in growing brands, and we’ve never seen him involved in something that wasn’t successful, so we know Nikita Hair was the right fit for us,” said Farina. 

In addition to Kartarik’s recommendation  of the brand, Farina and Rilling also appreciate the target customer of the brand as well as its Amazon-proof business model. “Services by Nikita Hair bring a sense of affordable luxury to the target market,” said Farina. “We’re not at a low price point, but we’re also not charging $100 for a haircut. We’re right in the middle of that price range. We also love that we’re joining a brand that offers in-demand services. Clients are always going to need their hair done, whether it’s a cut, style or color, and we’ll be here to serve them every step of the way.”

How Farina and Rilling Hope to Give Back to the Community and Bring a Sense of Togetherness to Clients and Stylists

Farina and Rilling bring a unique type of ownership to the Frisco community. “One of us has a lot of experience in the salon industry and understands the heart and soul of a stylist, and how those stylists are fueled by their passions,” explained Farina. “And Laurie’s understanding of human nature and human behavior helps us in creating a culture that is unique and unlike anything else in the area.”

Rather than creating an environment in which stylists are on their own and don’t feel like they are part of a team, Farina and Rilling want to create a family-like atmosphere. “I think even with COVID, people still have a pent-up desire to be together, and we want to offer a sense of togetherness for both our stylists and clients at Nikita Hair,” said Farina.

Rilling added that both she and Farina bring a sense of world experience to their salon as well. “We have long been interested in fashion and hair, and we always had the most cutting-edge haircuts and styles growing up,” she laughed. “We also enjoy the sense of community here in Frisco. We’ve both lived in many different cities, and we know that this is our home, and it's a  great place to live and raise a family. There’s so much growth just over the horizon, and we're excited to be opening a business here.”

The couple is also excited about the opportunity to give back. Nikita Hair is involved in many initiatives to combat world hunger and provide nutritional assistance to orphaned children, through A Hand to Children. “We want to have a positive impact on our community, and I think partnering with a brand that already puts forth so much effort to change the world further cements the idea that we made the right choice in signing with Nikita Hair,” said Farina.

Farina and Rilling said they are looking at their growth alongside the brand with a “start small, think big” mindset. “I would like our salon to become the template for what other salons may look like for Nikita Hair,” said Farina. “I want to make sure that we have a successful formula and are running our first location like a well-oiled machine so that we can help the brand establish a format for use at other salons down the road.” 

Through the journey to entrepreneurship, and their own personal relationship journey, the two said that they want to remind others that patience pays off, in many ways. “The first day I walked into beauty school I knew that I wanted to open up my own salon,” said Farina. “The patience of waiting that long shows that things don't’ happen overnight, but if you work toward your goal and you have a dream then you can make it really come true.” 

 Farina and Rilling said they plan to open their Nikita Hair location in late July or early August.

Total investment necessary to franchise with Nikita Hair ranges from $189,500 - $297,800  including a $43,500 franchise fee.