About The Salon
Prickly Pear Salon was founded in 2017 when Laura took a leap to create a salon suite where clients could feel completely at home while receiving top-notch services. Her vision was to cultivate a space where authenticity thrived, empowering everyone who walked through the door to grow and flourish from the inside out.
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By 2021, Prickly Pear Salon had blossomed into its first brick-and-mortar location in the heart of Cary, North Carolina. Laura continues to nurture a welcoming environment, staying true to her commitment to sustainability and creating a salon that reflects her core values.
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Our mission is to empower stylists and clients alike through high-quality salon services, education and sustainable salon practices so that we can have a positive impact on the world.
We Believe
At Prickly Pear Salon, we believe your salon experience should be both laid-back and luxurious—authentic and welcoming. This is a space where you can leave feeling uplifted, refreshed, and absolutely yourself. None of the pretentious BS.
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We believe that hair has no gender, which is why our services are gender-neutral. Our pricing is based on time and product, not labels. We're proud allies of the LGBTQ+ community, dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive environment for everyone who walks through our doors.
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We believe in making a positive impact on our community. Our team volunteers our time and organizes annual donation drives to support local causes and make a difference where it’s needed most.
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We also believe in operating with integrity and respect for our planet. Through our partnership with SalonCycle, we recycle and divert up to 90% of our salon waste, including hair clippings, excess color, used foils, snack wrappers, and coffee pods. We use energy-efficient lighting and smart thermostats to minimize our energy footprint, and our refillable water cooler helps reduce single-use plastics. Our commitment to sustainability extends to the products we carry, including EVO Hair and Marley’s Monsters, which support our guests on their journey to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Additionally, our VISH color management system enhances sustainability by reducing waste and ensuring consistent, high-quality results for each guest
Meet The Team
Laura Magruder
she/her
Owner + Master Stylist
Welcome! I'm Laura, the mind behind Prickly Pear Salon and a Master Stylist.
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As a business owner, stylist, and person with many interests, I understand how important (and challenging) it is to create time for self care in a laid-back environment. I've designed my salon so when you leave, you will feel refreshed, confident, and like you’ve made a new friend!
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I have been a stylist for over 13 years and greatly enjoy the opportunity to form relationships with others while I create custom looks for each of my clients. I specialize in low-maintenance color such as lived-in blondes and redheads as well as precision cutting. I take great pride in my extensive education background ranging from Vidal Sassoon cutting courses to Advanced Color Theory classes.
I feel strongly that the role of a stylist is not only to provide a fantastic service, but to provide each client with education and knowledge that extends far beyond the chair. I work with each of my clients to set them up with a game-plan to reach their color goals and to set them up for success long-term. I want all my clients to feel like they have gorgeous hair year-round, even if it’s low maintenance!
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When I'm not behind the chair or working on the behind-the-scenes business details, I am snuggled up on the couch with pets, crafting new home decor, or tackling a DIY project. I love to explore new restaurants, bars, and cities. Anything can turn into an adventure for me!
Emily Satterfield
she/her
Stylist
Hi, I’m Emily! I started my hair stylist journey in high school, where I fell in love with the industry while working as an assistant. I graduated cosmetology school in 2019 from Cape Fear Community College.
Behind the chair I specialize in low maintenance lived-in color and blonding techniques by creating a customized color for every guest. One of my main focuses is to ensure that the hair always keeps its healthy integrity when receiving any color service. Using organic, sustainable hair care products is just one way I do this. I have a passion for education and am dedicated to improving my craft so that I can help each person who sits in my chair create their hair goals. My ultimate goal is to create a genuine and relaxing environment for my clients while making you feel confident with your hair!
When I’m not working you will find me thrifting, watching any true crime show, or going to any basketball games. With recently moving to the area I also love to discover new restaurants and things to do!
Taylor VanAernem
she/they
Stylist
Hi everyone! My name is Taylor, and I’m thrilled to be the newest stylist at Prickly Pear Salon! I’m originally from upstate New York and started my journey in the hair industry over ten years ago—even before graduating high school.
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I love creating styles that truly reflect each client’s individuality, whether it’s through specialized curly cuts or bold, statement-making color services. Blonding, vivids, and reds are where my creativity really shines. My goal is to provide a safe, welcoming space where clients can explore self-expression through hair, with each cut and color tailored to highlight their unique identity.
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I’m passionate about ongoing education and growth, always seeking out opportunities to refine my skills. I’ve taken Virtue’s curly cutting course, Sassoon’s advanced color training, and even joined the crew at New York Fashion Week.
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When I’m not behind the chair, you’ll probably find me playing video games, catching a live concert, or hanging out with my pet tarantula, Sinclair. I can’t wait to meet you and help bring your hair dreams to life!
Kayla Tenney
she/they
Salon Manager
Allow me to introduce myself – I'm Kayla, a multi-talented queen with a diverse background in retail, management, and a sharp eye for social media. My journey has taken me through various roles, with my most recent venture being at HANDmeUPs Thrift.
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The birth of my daughter Louise brought everything into focus, shifting my priorities and giving me a new perspective on balancing professional growth with motherhood. That’s when I took a leap of faith and joined the phenomenal team at Prickly Pear Salon. As the Salon Manager, I bring my wealth of experience in leadership and customer care, while also creating a warm, welcoming environment for both clients and staff. From handling day-to-day operations to fostering a strong team dynamic, my goal is to ensure the salon runs smoothly and thrives.
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Beyond my professional role, I’m a proud mom to Louise and fur-mom to two adorable fur-children, Bubba and Gwen. I’m passionate about spreading awareness on topics like queerness, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and mental health. Thrifting is my jam, and when I'm not at the salon, you can find me spending quality time with my family or indulging in a guilty pleasure binge of trash TV.
From the very start, I knew this was exactly where I was meant to be – the perfect addition to an already incredible team!
Cassie Diaz
she/her
Stylist
Hi everyone, I'm Cassie! I started my hair career in downtown Raleigh, with an extensive assistant program where I trained directly under the owner until I became a full-time stylist.
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I am passionate about creating lived-in blonding and vivids= transformations, dimensional brunettes, color blocking, and layered haircuts. I love working with sustainable and eco-friendly products lines so I can provide high quality services while respecting the integrity of my clients' hair. I love to provide a safe space for my clients where they can feel comfortable and as come as they are. I am excited to be joining the Prickly Pear Salon team where I can continue to grow and excel as a stylist.
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Outside of the salon, I love to spend time with my family and get outside with my kids! When I get to spend time with myself, I love to binge watch reality tv and true crime or online shop, my guilty pleasures.