Treehouse Social Club’s playful feel is more than a personal design choice. Mischa wanted to foster an environment that celebrated diversity and expression, and felt like a safe haven. “I am part of the queer community, and a lot of my friends are drag queens. I wanted people to feel comfortable and accepted partly by sprinkling gay culture everywhere,” she said. The front door is a two-way mirror that gives clients privacy while they have their hair done.
As an educator and community builder, Mischa believes in an exchange of ideas over competition. “There are many small, female-owned salons in the East Village that I share clients with. She is planning small salon community education days and partnering with other women- and queer-owned salons to build an educational network and platform for assistants to have the opportunity to train at various salons, promoting community over competition.
As an event space, Treehouse has opened its mirrored doors for birthdays and anniversary parties, product launches for beauty and hair care brands and an open mic night. She’s planning to add comedy shows, yoga and wellness nights including acupuncture in the backyard, to their calendar. Treehouse also offers fair pricing by renting space to other hairstylists instead of having a commission split. “I am their landlord, not their boss. They have complete control over their own schedules.” And when someone joins Treehouse, she focuses on her own brand of trauma therapy, retraining stylists to stop apologizing.
“Certain salon settings can be traumatic and abusive,” she said. “My goal is to help reshape the industry.”