Photography by Bo Carlock/Spacecrafting | Silvie Hair Studio Team: Sammi Howell, Ilona Ashe, Delila Martin, Annika Klugherz, Carly Haviland, Laura Sandness and Sylvia Zderchuk
Silvie Hair Studio, Academy and Extensions
“There are so many people dealing with fear and anxiety, but diving into what we’re most afraid of is where growth comes,” says Silvie Hair Academy Director Carly Haviland.
Growth is the name of the game at the Wayzata salon, which opened its doors in 2011. Owner Sylvia Zderchuk says the motivation to launch her own studio came not only from her parents — who immigrated from Moldova when she was just 8 years old — but from her own defining moment after a fortuitous appointment when she sought out extensions for her thinning hair.
“I remember standing in front of the mirror and feeling whole again,” she recalls. “It wasn’t just about beauty. I realized how deeply hair is tied to how we see ourselves; it’s a part of our identity.” That moment lit a fire.
Zderchuk traveled the world, learning everything she could about luxury products and techniques as well as the inner workings that can cause hair loss. She put these learnings into action with her clients, and since then, the hair that has walked out of the studio has garnered a reputation for being the best, even leading to rare referrals from stylists at other salons.
“We weren’t afraid to go against the grain,” says Haviland. “Doing things differently was the very thing that set us apart.”
As demand grew, Zderchuk and Haviland knew their next step wasn’t just scaling the business, it was pouring their expertise into others. In 2021, they launched Silvie Hair Academy to train licensed stylists with the same techniques that made the salon a success. Then, as the industry faced major disruptions during COVID, especially with supply-chain issues, they launched their own line of luxury hair extensions, built to meet the standards that clients deserve.
Their commitment to team- and solution-oriented service for clients has been crucial to their success. But Haviland and Zderchuk are quick to point out that it’s never been about them. “Instead of focusing on ourselves, we focus on others and serving them. That’s the fire,” Zderchuk says.
Take note: The fire’s still burning. There might just be a Silvie Extension Bar pop-up in the Twin Cities someday soon.
