It’s easy to miss this unassuming hair salon tucked away on a quiet side street just off of Queen Street West in Parkdale. “A lot of people accidentally wander in from the coffee shop next door and are surprised at what they find,” laughs owner, Leesa Berry. The tiny space opened in 2012 as a one-woman show with Leesa acting as the hairdresser, business owner, cleaner and receptionist. “I wasn't planning on opening a shop but a friend asked me if I wanted to take over her space and it seemed like a good opportunity,” explains Leesa. “With no previous business experience, I've had to learn what works for me along the way.”
Though she may not have had experience being a small business owner, she did have more than 25 years of expertise cutting hair under her belt — 15 of those years at Queen West mainstay, Coupe Bizzarre. “I like to think my specialty is haircuts,” says Leesa. “It doesn’t matter whether your hair is straight or curly or long or short, if you have a great cut you’re going to look your best.”
Since opening Leesa Berry Haircutting, three more stylists have set up their chairs in her cozy, exposed-brick space and together they are known for creating some of the most fashion-forward cuts in the city.
