our story
willow hair is a boutique salon at 2643 willamette street in eugene, oregon. founded in december 2009 by helen wegener, willow has grown into a team of eight stylists and two estheticians — a deliberately small, skilled group built around the belief that great hair comes from genuine craft and genuine collaboration. we’ve been eugene’s choice for color, cut, and skincare for nearly two decades, and we’re still in the business of doing it right. willow has been voted best hair salon in eugene two years running — 2025 and 2026 — by the register-guard’s community choice awards.
helen wegener, founder
originally from australia, helen has worked and managed salons in sydney, adelaide, los angeles, and california’s bay area. she has also participated in styling for film, commercials, and print work in la and ny.
In the hair industry since 1981, helen knows that it is only possible to build a successful company with the support of an incredible team. willow is fortunate to have a group of talented and experienced individuals who have dedicated themselves to providing a professional, relaxing salon experience.
helen trained as a hairdresser in adelaide, south australia, through an apprenticeship at gentiles — a salon founded by stylists who trained under vidal sassoon in london. from there she managed salons in sydney and worked in london and los angeles, including styling for film, commercials, and print.
what she built was the place she’d always wanted to work in.
a note on what she cares about
helen believes strongly in community. she experienced it firsthand as a young stylist in adelaide and los angeles, in industries that looked after each other’s education and growth. she sees that same possibility in the hair industry today. it’s part of why willow’s relationship with r+co matters to her, since they put real emphasis on the artists, not just the products.
when she talks to younger stylists on the team, she comes back to one thing. social media can show you everything, but it can’t put you in the room. the events, the education, and the mentorship are where you actually become someone in this industry. willow is that room.
savannah wegener, salon director
savannah grew up between the united states and australia, which gave her a good eye for what makes a salon feel right in each context. she joined the willow team four years ago and now runs the day-to-day as salon director. she’s the first voice many new clients hear and the operational center of the salon. she’s also, by her own admission, the team member most likely to talk helen into fitting in one more color appointment. it’s her favorite part of the job, and given the results, we don’t mind at all.
the team
eight stylists. two estheticians. one salon director. all in one considered space on willamette street. the work happens collaboratively, stylists consult each other on complex color, and knowledge moves freely around the room. the standard stays high because everyone holds everyone else to it. it’s the culture helen built, and it’s what clients feel the moment they walk in.
