Profile

A colorist and stylist since 1980, Jane Webb regularly left work at some of downtown's top salons feeling sick and fatigued after inhaling so many fragrance and chemical dye fumes. After researching nontoxic hair care methods and product lines, Webb made the decision to go natural in 1997 by turning to yoga and a vegan diet, and opening a tiny, two-chair salon on the ground floor of a building owned by a longtime client. At only 150 square feet, Grace Heaven’s close quarters are adorned with plenty of plants, artwork, and vintage furniture. What it lacks in space, the salon makes up for in both kitsch and attentiveness, as Webb and two other stylists attend to each head—referred mostly by word of mouth. Using only eco-friendly, non-petroleum, and heavy metal-free shampoos and dyes, Webb assures that clients accustomed to traditional chemical dyes will achieve identical results from her highlights, baliage, or single-process color. And although about half of her male and female customers are fellow supporters of the organic, eco-conscious lifestyle, many simply return for the salon's wearable razor-cut coifs and first-rate blowouts—and the good karma. — Carolyn Murnick