Founder Clare is a local hairdresser with over 25 years of experience and spent many of those years working in this very building as The Vanilla Rooms.

Ever since she was young, she and her dad Bryan had talked about her opening her own salon one day. When the opportunity came to do it, she knew exactly what she wanted to call it.

It was never going to be called anything else. Clarissa’s is Bryan’s nickname for her, and after sadly losing both him and her mum Janice in 2025, the name means everything.

With her partner Mike by her side and her brother Scott rolling his sleeves up alongside her, she has turned that childhood dream into something real.

Have a look around when you’re in and you might notice the little things. The walls are sage because it was Janice’s favourite colour, and lilies on the wallpaper because they were her favourite flower.

The salon is built in their memory, and it’s built with a purpose.

Clare has opened Clarissa’s because she believes independent professionals deserve better than just a space to work in.

She wants somewhere people can launch properly, grow at their own pace, and feel supported while they do it.

Whatever stage you’re at, you won’t be figuring it out on your own here.