The very first salon in Mueller, and now a staple for many, Haute European Salon & Beauty Products serves locals in the heart of Austin within the Mueller community as a friendly and talented salon. Upon walking into the shop, laughter and friendly chatter fill the air in the cozy and welcoming space. Music plays and customers walk out contentedly. This salon prioritizes quality and customer satisfaction while providing an unmatched sense of community — and at the heart of the bustling camaraderie is owner, founder, and Master Hair Stylist Katalin Kiss, whose journey began in Europe where she started hairstyling at the age of 14.
“In Europe, you need almost 4,690 hours of education to be a hair stylist,” Ms. Kiss said, “We graduate with degrees that we have for life.”
Ms. Kiss explains that before she opened her business, she was a cosmetology instructor. During that role, she met Ms. Becky Packard, who ultimately joined Ms. Kiss and took on the role of hair stylist at Haute Salon. At first, the Mueller community — a former airport transformed into a modern planned community — was still up-and-coming, and being a small business, Haute Salon attracted most of their clientele through word-of-mouth marketing. Ms. Kiss employed and guided high-quality hair stylists whose talent has kept many of their original customers, establishing deep-rooted bonds with longtime clients. In recent years, however, Ms. Kiss has focused on improving the salon-shop’s social media and website outreach.
“We focus more on quality and listening to the client’s needs,” Ms. Kiss said. “At my salon, it is unique because each hair stylist focuses on what they specialize [in], so they are going for their passion. When a person goes for their passion, you cannot do wrong.”
One factor that sets Haute Salon apart from the numerous other boutiques in the state is that they have a Sassoon-trained team. Sassoon, a high-level hairdressing technique taught by the prestigious Sassoon Academy, emphasizes precision cutting approaches, modern and classic styles, geometric shapes, and a strong foundation in hair theory focusing on cuts that help flatter individual features and require minimal styling. Sassoon hair styling is a level of skill that’s rare in America as there are only two Sassoon Academies in the United States. Currently, Haute Salon is the only salon in Austin with an entirely Sassoon-trained team.
“I’m so grateful for the Sassoon training,” Ms. Packard said. “Whenever someone requests something, we can do it from sight just by looking at a photo. It allows me to shape different styles. Sassoon training gives us a really broad reach.”
Innovation is another important aspect of Haute Salon’s brand. Ms. Kiss recently introduced a novel hair tool, the hot scissor, that builds more resilient hair. Hot scissor haircuts, also known as thermal cuts, help seal damaged hair or split ends with electrically heated scissors, therefore helping hair regrow healthier. Although Haute Salon recently began offering thermal cuts, Ms. Kiss has many clients that come to her salon specifically for these hot scissors as she has years of experience with the tool. A handful of Ms. Kiss’ clients have left glowing reviews on their experience with the hot scissors, praising the salon’s hair stylists for their talented work. In 2026, she plans to market her hot scissors, highlighting the salon’s individuality.
“One time I had a very interesting haircut request from a musician,” Ms. Packard said, “Thank god for the Sassoon training — it allowed me to help achieve the client’s expectation for the hair shape and style.”
Hair trends and preferences change frequently based on social trends and media. The Haute Salon team, however, is consistently learning new techniques to satisfy unique requests from customers. Hair stylist Kelli Golden, for instance, has experienced how trends from the ‘80s come back with new names. Wolfcuts, for example, have risen in popularity on social media in the last few years. Featuring deceptively methodic layers, wolfcuts are reminiscent of the shag haircut popular in the ‘90s. Receiving intriguing and uncommon requests from clients can be a challenge for the Haute Salon hairstylists, but nevertheless they utilize their extensive training and honed skillset to achieve customer satisfaction — one of their primary goals.
“Customers always have different preferences,” Ms. Golden said. “Someone once asked me about a mushroom haircut, which was new. I remember when I was in school and someone requested something I’d never heard. I was like, ‘what?’.”
Despite the tribulations and adjustments, Haute Salon successfully runs and meets the needs of their client base. They are active in the Mueller community, often hosting karaoke and Hair Tinsel Happy Hour and participating in fall festivals. These events often expand their customer base. Last May, the salon-shop celebrated their 10th anniversary. Despite their success, Haute Salon continually aspires to greater heights. In the next decade, Ms. Kiss plans on opening more branches across the city while prioritizing quality and the same welcoming vibe that initially attracted clientele. Overall, Haute Salon brings talent and comfort while forging meaningful connections with their clients, maximizing not only customer satisfaction but also invention in the salon and beauty space.
“If you look good, you feel good,” Ms. Kiss said. “Healthy hair never goes out of fashion.”
