Jasawn Pryce

The Knockturnal had the chance to explore Citryne Rose, an opulent haven nestled in the heart of Midtown. This Caribbean women-owned masterpiece, brought to life by founder and visionary Julie Dastiné, is your passport to an enchanting realm of luxury. Each client is ushered into a world where they are pampered like royalty and immersed in an experience that seamlessly weaves together fun, style, and absolute refinement.

Citryne Rose isn’t just your ordinary salon; it’s a thrilling journey into the world of hair transformation. With a strong focus on textured hair and a mission to boost confidence and empowerment, it goes beyond their signature silk presses and natural styles. Thanks to a recent partnership with Redken, they’ve elevated their hair coloring game to new heights, expanding their palette while maintaining a commitment to healthy hair.

This salon doesn’t just settle for the ordinary; it consistently sets the stage for the latest beauty trends and industry standards through salon education, workshops, and more. It’s no surprise that Citryne Rose has become a sanctuary for so many, including the incredibly talented Trevor Noah.

As our adventure through the world of Citryne Rose unfolds, we dive into the heart of this experience through an engaging conversation with visionary founder Julie Dastiné. In this exchange, we discover her inspiration, motivation, and more!

The Knockturnal: Can you speak a little bit about your background and journey?

Julie Dastiné: I attended the Aveda Institute and graduated in 2009. During my time there, an instructor named Keith Campbell performed a razor-cut bob on one of my classmates. He was a talented Black man with a whole crew, and they had a vibe. I was so impressed that I wanted to learn more and work for him.

I searched for salons along 5th Avenue targeting corporate ones open to hiring me, but nothing came of it. I continued making persistent efforts to contact his salon. Since it was located in New Jersey, about 25 minutes from my parents’ house in Rockland County. From there I began an apprenticeship with one of his colleagues Akilah Abrams in Midtown on 33rd Street. I worked as her assistant for nearly a year before becoming a full-time stylist in New Jersey with Keith.

At that time, Instagram wasn’t as popular as now;  it was all through word of mouth. I took my time with every client and received bi-weekly training, including cutting classes under his supervision. It was a small boutique salon, but it was absolutely beautiful. He served many professional women from Montclair, New Jersey, and I began attracting a similar clientele, including professional women, mothers, and even some celebrities.

This environment set the bar for me on how to provide the best energy in a salon space. After working with Keith, I started my journey as an entrepreneur in my dad’s basement. I began to build my Instagram following, collaborated with a YouTuber, went viral on Instagram, and grew my subscribers on YouTube.

The Knockturnal: Could you share the inspiration behind Citryne Rose? and a little more of the journey that led to its creation? 

Julie Dastiné: The inspiration behind Citryne Rose was my healing. During the pandemic, my last business failed, which led to a lot of debt. Feeling the need for a change, I took a short trip to Philly, where I met an elderly man on the Street who struck up a conversation because of the yellow dress I was wearing. He asked what’s your name? ” When I told him “Julie”, he insisted my name was CITRINE. When the name “Citrine” hit my ears it felt as if a lightning bolt struck my heart. He started to share that he felt I’ve been here several times before and that I’ve been reincarnated. I had no prior knowledge of citrine crystals at that moment, so I researched it. 

To my surprise, it happened to be my birthstone, symbolizing power, prosperity, and abundance, which resonated with me deeply. I felt a strong sense of alignment as I began using the crystals to channel the energy needed to envision prosperity, in the midst of seeing shambles and debt. During this time, my mother, Rose, wasn’t doing well, so I wanted to honor her. This led to the birth of Citryne Rose.

Citryne Rose represents the future, like the rose growing from the concrete, something that hasn’t been done and what people are afraid to do. My goal is to create community within the company and invest in our members and team. Citryne Rose isn’t just a salon seeking profit; it’s a space where people become part of a team and find stability. I’m dedicated to providing opportunities for stylists to thrive, receive support, and enjoy benefits like health insurance and a 401K.  

The Knockturnal: For those who are discovering Citryne Rose, could you tell us about the services and treatments you offer? 

Julie Dastiné: Within our community, we embrace various protective styles such as crochets, box braids, wigs, weaves, etc. These styles are often chosen for their convenience to minimize the time spent on hair maintenance. Unfortunately, what frequently occurs is the style that was once intended for protection turns into a style of neglect, ultimately resulting in hair loss.

We approach protective styles differently. We don’t offer any services that cause tension on the scalp, like box braids or cornrows. Instead, we want people to consider us as the place to care for their natural hair. We provide services like steam treatments, silk presses, trimming, coloring, and all of the things that make our hair a beautiful crown while prioritizing its health. 

In addition to our services, we also incorporated product sales, retail, and education for our team members to ensure they are well-prepared to serve the community and feel supported in their roles.

We are currently developing bi-weekly and monthly memberships for those seeking self-care. Whether you’re a fan of protective styles or not, our goal is to eliminate the hassle of wash days. With a membership or pre-booking, your hair care becomes a worry-free routine, with Citryne Rose taking care of you. All you need to do is maintain the moisture balance and use the recommended products.

Our ultimate aim is to empower people to embrace their natural hair more often. While protective styles are enjoyable and beautiful, we want to reintroduce the tradition of consistent salon treatments while prioritizing hair health, just as it was when we were kids. 

The Knockturnal: In an inviting and inclusive space like Citryne Rose, how do you consistently ensure top-notch customer service and loyalty among your clientele?

Julie Dastiné: I am the energy influencer in the room, and creating an intimate atmosphere is important to me. It’s a personal experience touching a client’s hair, so I want to make them feel comfortable and help them lower their guard with a warm smile when they walk in.

Growing into the industry when I was 19, I learned the concept of being a servant. It was humbling when I first heard it, but as I grew, I began to understand that I’m serving people, whether it be serving you with a silk press, a twist out, or simply radiating great energy. 

Energy is currency. At Citryne we exchange this currency with great attitudes and by maintaining positive outlooks. Even in conflict, there must be love and understanding of everyone’s experience. My approach is grounded in empathy, considering what I would appreciate as a customer. I like being offered water, having someone assist with my bags, and feeling like I don’t have to worry about anything. 

The Knockturnal: Could you share a memorable client story or moment that has inspired your passion for hair? 

Julie Dastiné: When I rebranded, I had a photoshoot, and during that shoot, I created a stunning pink hairstyle for a young girl using a rod set and I also gave her a haircut. It transformed her into a beautiful chocolate fairy with a futuristic look. I loved this look a lot because it showed that black women can do whatever they want with their hair no matter their depth of complexion. 

This experience fueled my imagination about the innovative possibilities for black women. Now, with the support of Redken, we have access to education that enables us to maintain our leadership in the beauty industry while continuously inspiring unique looks. 

This shoot was one of the most inspiring moments in my career so far. When I’m able to create fantasy colors on natural hair or any significant transformation, it shows my range in skill. I take pride in maintaining healthy hair while giving a dope style and an impressive outcome. That’s what sets my work apart from others because it’s everything in one: creativity, hair health, and mindfulness helping you attain a beautiful shape, cut, and overall experience.

 The Knockturnal: Congratulations on your exciting partnership with Redken! Can you tell me a little bit about how the partnership came about?

Julie Dastiné: Over a year ago, I was contacted by Ashley, a representative from Salon Centric, regarding Redken. We met for lunch, and she told me about the opportunities they wanted to provide through Redken. It was perfect timing for me as I was transitioning to a larger location and needed education for my staff. Having them offer education and the necessary support to be creative with their color techniques was exactly what I wanted and needed from a partnership.

To establish ourselves as leaders in Midtown specializing in textured hair and colors, the support of a professional color line felt like divine timing and fell into my lap. It’s been incredible to see how they have shown up for us by bringing in educators and providing additional training to black stylists as far as technique, chemistry, and the approach to color. My goal is to ensure that my team is knowledgeable in their approach to client consultations, explaining maintenance, and even how they explain color formulation they create for clients. It’s empowering for a stylist to know these things because it gives them a greater sense of expertise. The idea of education and investing in it and working with quality color products helps bring more professionalism to my salon.

The Knockturnal: I know you recently worked with Trevor Noah; what was that like? 

Julie Dastiné: I believe Trevor Noah’s assistant was the one who discovered me and reached out. Trevor wanted his hair done, which was an awesome opportunity. I typically don’t market to men as much, so being able to service him, shape his hair, and provide guidance on the best practices for his hair has been amazing. He’s just as great in person as he appears on television and in various news outlets; He’s incredible. Today, black men aren’t just walking around with low-cut caesars and deep waves anymore so I created the option for men to get their entire hair shaped by me because barbers often focus only on the sides, neglecting the rest. I believe it’s important for black men to have a space where they can shape their entire head, in addition to getting that line-up, because it changes the whole aspect of their hair. Seeing my haircut on him at events like the Grammys and various appearances makes me feel like I did that! I aspire to attract even more A-listers and public figures to help them curate their look and raise awareness of my brand. 

The Knockturnal: Last question, Do you have any exciting plans or upcoming developments you’d like to share?

Julie Dastiné: Our greatest developments involve expanding our memberships, growing our team, and enhancing the operational aspects of the business. Our goal is to empower our community and attract the funding and support needed to bring the brand to the heights I’ve envisioned. 

Citryne Rose New York is located at 153 W 36th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY, and is open weekly from Tuesday to Saturday, catering to all your hair care needs. For more information on Citryne Rose, visit CitryneRose.com or @Citrynerosenewyork on Instagram.