sine qua non salon celebrates 22 years in the hair industry

Chicago’s Best Hair Salon Turns 22 Years Young

Sine Qua Non Hair Salon, founded and owned by Laura Boton, was introduced to Chicago on August 18th, 1993 in a tiny storefront on Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park. Laura set out to create a flexible, positive and creative environment where stylists could go above and beyond for the client, creating the perfect look for their lifestyle. Sine Qua Non was designed to be a safe haven for musicians, everyday working Chicagoan and artists looking for a unique and casually elegant place to get their hair done. Sine Qua Non quickly became the go-to salon for local rock stars such as Wilco and Andrew Bird and many Second City Alumni such as Tina Fey.
By 1998, Sine Qua Non grew out of the tiny storefront and into what is now the Sine Qua Non Lincoln Park Salon on 2766 North Lincoln Avenue. As SQN grew, Laura soon began focusing on stylist education by instituting what is now known as one of the best hairstylist training programs in Chicago. The curriculum was established and is constantly being reborn by collaborating with her great team of stylists. This practice has enabled Sine Qua Non to continue to thrive, creating and sustaining a great culture for her team and their valued clients.
Our first satellite boutique location, Sine Qua Non Lakeview opened its doors in 2002 to fulfill our need for more space, while honoring our love for the boutique atmosphere. With the help of such amazing hairdressers like Glenn Rischke and Sonia Vella, Sine Qua Non Lakeview was a great success.
Laura’s favorite neighborhood, Andersonville, became the next SQN location to take Chicago by storm. By 2005, Sine Qua Non was in 3 of the top affluent and discerning neighborhoods in Chicago. Our Andersonville location is most reminiscent of our first original space, and we love its intimate feel.

Then the real estate market crashed….

You thought this was going to be the sad ending, didn’t you?
Laura and her husband, Eric, took a real plunge in 2009 and invested into a three flat on Chicago Avenue, now home to the fourth installment of Sine Qua Non Salon, West Town. This project was Laura’s favorite collaboration with her dear and talented friend and interior designer, Bruce Fox of Bruce Fox Design. They captured the design spirit of that moment by using salvaged vintage and rustic pieces mixed with hand-crafted furniture to create this warm and specialized space.

What’s next for Laura and the Sine Qua Non Salon family?

SINE ESSENTIALS – Laura and her new collaborative partner and stylist, Brad Hough, will be turning heads. Literally. Brad and Laura launched their new hair care line by formulating hair products using the cleanest ingredients, free of toxins and harmful preservatives.
Sine Essentials is currently available at your neighborhood Sine Qua Non Salon in any one of our four locations, and our website will be live @ sineessentials.com on August 30, 2015 where you can purchase for delivery.