You will be forgiven if you aren’t familiar with Muse & Mane Hair Bar, one of Joburg’s new beauty destinations. It only opened about 15 months ago, and it’s tucked behind an unassuming façade in the beautiful gardens of Broadacres Lifestyle Centre. The garden-like atmosphere in the section behind the main shops sets Broadacres Lifestyle Centre apart from conventional shopping centres, and Muse & Mane has taken full advantage of this plaza-like vibe.
From the open-air walkways, with plenty of natural light and greenery, you step inside, and the mood shifts slightly: think warm, layered interiors, plush textures, muted tones and a calm hum of energy that feels more private club than traditional salon.
Opened in September 2024, Muse & Mane was born from a shared vision between its investors and seasoned aesthetic professional Mokgadi Makwana, who manages the salon and leads its advanced skin offering. With more than 20 years in the aesthetics industry, Mokgadi’s career spans medical aesthetics, working alongside doctors and plastic surgeons, and years spent honing a results-driven, highly personalised approach to skin.
“A recruitment agency approached me with a clear vision,” she recalls. “The investors had specifically asked them to reach out to me because they wanted something different – not a salon limited to one hair type or a single kind of client, but a space where everyone feels seen, welcomed and cared for. I was exactly the person they were looking for.”
That inclusivity sits at the heart of Muse & Mane. Hair services cater to both ethnic and Caucasian hair, while the beauty offering is rooted firmly in skin health rather than just beauty treatments. Mokgadi offers everything from bespoke peels and corrective treatments to foundational facials for younger clients, all grounded in education and preceded by a consultation. Skincare brands include SkinCeuticals, DermaQuest, DermaFix and sun protection brand Heliocare, as well as premium collagen brands ProActive and Motherkind.
“At Muse & Mane, we believe that beauty is a journey, not a destination,” says Mokgadi. “Our mission is to empower individuals to embrace their unique beauty through personalised, high-quality services. I help people feel confident in their own skin. From rejuvenating facials and corrective peels to tailored skincare plans, my passion lies in transforming concerns like breakouts, dullness and early signs of ageing into radiant, healthy skin. For me, it’s not just about skincare — it’s about self-care, confidence and those feel-good moments when clients leave glowing inside and out.”
On the hair side, Franco Conrad, Head Hair Stylist, brings equal gravitas. A veteran of the industry, Franco is Mokgadi’s right hand and creative anchor, overseeing precision cutting, colour and styling with a calm authority that comes only from experience. Here, you can be pampered with Kérastase, L’Oréal and Mizani, while the super-slick barber space also features American Crew. Extensions, raw Cambodian wigs, ghd professional hair styling tools and makeup services are also offered.
“My specialities are colour, cuts, and hair and scalp health,” says Franco. “I am passionate about learning the latest innovations in haircare and product knowledge. Right now, my favourite treatment is the Kérastase Fusio-Dose range of treatments. It’s luxury with purposeful haircare solutions.”
But Muse & Mane is as much about how you feel as what you book.
From the moment clients arrive, the experience unfolds with quiet ceremony: a warm towel, a dedicated butler, a curated beverage menu (something warm, cold or celebratory, if you wish), and an unhurried consultation. I love the fact that there’s a well-thought-out space to work remotely while your hair takes, couches to relax fully with a book or simply be, without the feeling of being rushed to make way for the next appointment.
“It’s not just a coffee and a chair,” says Franco. “Our clients travel; they’ve seen international salons. They know what’s out there, and this space is modelled on that global standard.”
Design plays a key role. Created by a specialist designer, the interior feels cocooning, as though you are spending a morning in your friend’s (beautiful!) home. But surrounding this warm and genuine approach is also a clear sense that this is a team operating at a high level. It is also the first and only salon in Africa that exclusively stocks premium liquor brands such as Ice Tropez, Ultimate Provence, Elector Whiskey, Saigon Baigur Gin and Crazy Tropez, which are complimentary with the services. From the smart custom uniforms to the attention to detail and immediate focus on clients as they enter the space, it signals intent. This is beauty, but it’s business.
“I wake up excited to come to work,” says Mokgadi. “This space is exactly what I wished for and, somehow, it happened exactly that way.”
In a city saturated with salons, Muse & Mane stands apart. Do yourself a favour and pop in for a coffee and a treatment. You won’t be disappointed.
Muse & Mane: Shop 3H, Broadacres Lifestyle Centre, corner Cedar and Valley Road, Broadacres.
Call: +27 67 442 9880 | Email: [email protected] | musemane.co.za
