A labour of love: Shambhala
In 2004, Teo Munro returned home from overseas with a dream to create a forever salon against any odds.
I wanted a salon solely dedicated to organic products, so clients had access to safer and healthier options.” Shambhala Hair Design opened its premises above Alice in Videoland. Though lacking advertising funds, word soon spread and the salon thrived for seven years until the earthquakes wrote it off. 
A five-year tenancy at lower Cashmere’s Swan Lake followed, but Teo’s desire to return to the CBD saw the salon re-open in St Asaph Street’s trendy BOXed Quarter.
Teo loved the location, but when Covid-19 hit, everything changed again. Customer parking became difficult, yet this obstacle was to prove fortuitous for Teo.
The former Willows Café in Opawa, had been bought by Rudolf Steiner School and Teo approached them with her business proposal for an organic salon.
It was a successful meeting and two years on, with seven stylists inhouse and Shambhala flourishing at 275 Fifield Terrace, Teo’s vision for the business has grown well beyond her dreams.
“I call this my “forever salon”; it has been a long journey to get here and I now look forward to the next 20 years.”
