Athena Kabitsis
from Greece to California
More Than Hair:
Athena Kabitsis and the Craft of Care
The first thing you will notice about Athena Kabitsis is her laughter, which is bright and unfiltered. She fills the room with warmth and there is an immediate sense of intimacy and familiarity. Athena is the owner of AsK. Salon. For her, it’s not just a business, it’s a close-knit community. Her customers are loyal patrons who come not just for their hair, but for a sense of belonging and connection as well.
Born in Greece, she arrived in the United States in 1977, she was six years old and spoke not a word of english. Her family settled in San Mateo to build a new life. They believed their hands were their assets, and through labor, creativity and hard work they would make their way in America.
Hairdressing was not her first chosen profession. In fact, at 15 years old she imagined she would work as a nurse caring for the elderly. During one of her school breaks, she met an elderly woman whose trembling hands made it impossible for her to do her own hair. Athena took it upon herself to brush and style this elderly lady’s hair the best she could. When she was done, the woman looked at herself in the mirror and her eyes squinted with joy. Her shoulders straightened, with a sense of confidence and dignity. This experience, made Athena realize, that appearance was not just about vanity but there was something undeniably human in helping someone see themselves differently.
Athena trained at Don’s Beauty School, and also returned as an instructor. For Athena, she sees her profession as both the craft of hair AND mentorship. In both the classroom and her salon, mastering the art of communication is essential. She is in the business of people, it’s always been about connection and community first and hair second.
In 1996, she opened AsK. Salon, her dream of being her own self-made business owner. She wanted to create an experience that felt like home, where clients weren’t customers but members of a community. The Greek concept of
philoxenia — welcoming strangers as friends
—shapes the space and experience for her clients. Every appointment always starts with a conversation. She wants her customers to trust her, to be appreciated and seen, and of course, leave looking fabulous.
Running a small business comes with highs and lows and an appetite for risk. Over the 35 years of running her business, Athena has faced recessions, COVID which hit her business and staff hard, and the ever-changing landscape of what is in and out for hairstyles. She has weathered all this by staying rooted in authenticity, learning, and nurturing relationships with her customers that have stretched across decades. “Even when the color has faded and the hair has grown,” she tells me, “I want them to remember how they felt in my chair.”
Through the decades of building her business she has missed birthdays and special occasions to work, juggled the pressures of motherhood while running a small-business,and mentoring and training her staff. Finding that balance can be elusive. “No one’s perfect,” she shrugs. “We’re all just trying to make the best of it.” Yet she thrives—and she laughs with an undertone of resilience.
Athena shares that her profession, hairdressing, is often dismissed. People will say: “She just does hair”—a phrase she has heard too many times. The fact is, hairdressers are artists, therapists, businesswomen, problem solvers—all rolled into one. Success isn’t about revenue or accolades. For Athena, it is showing up fully, giving generously, creating a space where others feel safe.
Success is, when a client walks out with a skip in their step,
when one of her stylists feels supported, a stranger who leaves as a friend.
When asked what she wants young women to take away from her story, Athena doesn’t hesitate.
“Your creative self is not a hobby—it’s a calling.
And most of all be yourself.
You have the ability to have impact on more lives than you know.”
Her advice is both practical and poetic. On her legacy, she keeps it simple, “I hope I’m remembered as someone who showed up, gave generously, and made others feel seen.”
Athena Kabitsis built AsK. Salon. Her business has never been just about hair, it’s always been about people. She wants her clients to know they matter, and if they can step out of her salon with confidence and delight, then she has done something right.