The Cutting Factory Cares for More Than Just Your Hair
by Jools Dembo
Our society values academics. Scientists. Doctors. Anyone with a name that has letters like M.D. or P.H.D attached to it. While these people are doing incredible, life changing work, it doesn’t mean that they are the only ones who are. Sara Viklund, owner of The Cutting Factory and hairstylist with over 20 years of experience, is on a mission to change the mindset of a world that values academic skill over creativity.
“I think that it’s important, especially in America, to highlight female creativity”
Born and raised in Sweden, Viklund always knew that she wanted to see the world. “I started doing hair when I was 16,” she said. “It’s a 3 year education and then I ventured out to Singapore and I lived there for 2 years.” While living in Singapore, she worked under Kim Robinson - A legendary hair stylist who has worked with people like Audrey Hepburn and Princess Diana. “I wanted to work and learn from the best,” she shared.
Viklund came to New York in 2015. “I came here on an O-1 Visa which I’m really proud of because not a lot of hairdressers get brought from another country to work in America,” said Viklund. “They always want athletes or finance people. But why not a craftsman?” As defined by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, an O-1 Visa is “for the individual who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements.”
She put her Visa status to good use, spending years working an abundance of shows for New York Fashion Week, primarily in 2018 and 2019. But she always had the goal of opening her own salon and even had a name picked out years before it would ever appear on the door in 2024. “I took the Instagram handle in 2019,” she said. “I like that it alludes to anything. It could be a seamstress studio. It could be a film editing place. It could be a butcher shop! You don't know but I do think that's the charm of it.”
While Viklund was prepared to open long before she did, the COVID-19 pandemic halted her plans. Needing to pivot, she decided to focus on creating her own hair care product line, Saratonin. Empowering other women is central to who she is as a person and she worked directly with an American based female run lab. Viklund worked alongside photographer Emily Teague to shoot a campaign for the brand and bring Saratonin to life.
Every product in the lineup is plant based and cruelty free. In developing the products, Viklund was focused on making sure that each formula was multi-use. The Original pomade can be used as a beard balm, a split-end sealer, and a curl refresher. Slick, Saratonin’s gel pomade, can be used for eyebrows as well as hairstyles. Soft, the leave-in conditioner, is both a heat protector and detangler. View the full product lineup here.
Throughout everything she does, Viklund has one goal in mind: to uplift other women. She works closely with Teague for shooting campaigns and content and has her images displayed on the walls of the Soho salon. “I think that it’s important, especially in America, to highlight female creativity,” she said.
Because of Viklund, The Cutting Factory is more than just a hair salon. It is a place where women can go and feel comfortable. “If the salon can be like a warm hug for people, that’s everything to me.” From haircuts to color, The Cutting Factory is a special kind of hair salon.
