Duo Builds Hair Empire One Salon at a Time

Erin Throw and Galaxia Martin are a pair of 28-year-olds with ambitious plans.

Earlier this year, the women opened their second at 21194 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort in the Jewel-Osco plaza. They opened their first salon in Joliet in 2009.

"It took about eight months, and the business took off in Joliet," Martin said. "We wanted to expand, and this location became available, and we jumped on it."

 "It might take us a year here," she added, "but I expect business will take off the same as in Joliet."

But the duo doesn't want to stop with its Joliet and Frankfort storefronts.

"Our goal is to open 200 salons eventually," Martin says, laughing. "But we're holding off on a third salon until this one gets going."

Throw is the stylist and nail technician, with seven years experience. Martin, who stepped away from a job as a club DJ, handles the business end of things for the salons. She also works as an information technician during the week.

Both women are concerned with community service and show it at the salons by hosting food drives and offering services to the needy.

"We'll give you $2 off a haircut if you bring in a canned good," Martin said. "And Erin has gone to the Guardian Angel Home in Joliet and given free haircuts and manicures to the women at the shelter."

Although they take up a lot of time, the salons aren't the only endeavors that keep the partners busy. The women perform with a friend twice a week in an alternative-pop band called Moirai, which has gigs lined up for the rest of the year.

"Mostly we play on the North Side," Throw said. "We have our first suburban gig coming up at a battle of the bands in Plainfield."

Martin is the singer, and Throw plays drums.

"I always wanted to be a drummer, so I taught myself how to play by watching YouTube," Throw said. "Now I'm in a band."

As if that isn't enough, Martin also is putting the finishing touches on a new venture called rzdigg.com, which she says will be a coupon service modeled on the highly successful Groupon with a couple of differences.

"We won't charge near as much," she said. "And we're going to be strictly for businesses in the Southwest Suburbs and Will County. Too many of the offers you get from Groupon are for northern or western suburbs that people and businesses around here can't take advantage of."

And what about the origin of the salon's name?

"It's a gaming term," says Martin. "It means awesome or great. We've had people stop in because they saw the name and had to ask."

Rockzorz Salon & Spa

Where: 21194 S. LaGrange Road
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. The salon is closed the first Sunday and Monday of the month.
More info: Call 815-469-0800 or visit their website