our story

In 1988, Founder Connie Suss (along with then partners, Mary Jane Van de Castle and Cathy Bentley) opened a four-chair salon in the heart of Westport in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Four chairs turned into six, then additional spa services soon followed. Fast-forward three and a half decades, hundreds of talented employees and thousands of happy clients later—bijin has grown from a locally loved salon to an internationally acclaimed brand.

Ten years after opening in Westport, it was time to expand its footprint—times three!  

bijin’s current home in Prairie Village, Kansas is where the vibrant culture of the staff and brand come to life everyday. Now the sole owner of bijin, Connie’s vision is all about investing in her staff so they can be their very best for their clients. And now—more than 35 years strong, bijin continues to be one of the top salons in the country.

Read more about Connie and bijin in The Kansas City Star.

  • Our Mission: To be in constant pursuit of Wow!

    Our Vision: To raise the industry standard, provide a world class experience for our clients and a creative environment where everyone can do their best work.

  • We strive to be professional, compassionate & inclusive. We always provide exceptional service, and put integrity & fun in every day.

  • We recycle, reuse, and compost in an effort to do what’s best for our planet.

  • bijin takes pride in giving back to the community all year long with a selected charity.

    Some of our past local recipients include: Hope House, Wayside Waifs, Newhouse, Restoration House, Together Rising, Hillcrest, Children’s Mercy, and every year we participate in the AIDS Walk.

  • Elle Magazine:
    Top 100 Salons in America

    InStyle Magazine:
    Beauty Black Book

    KC Magazine:
    City’s Best Spa, Best Salon and Spa

    435 Magazine:
    Best Salon, Spa Day Picks Feature

    Salon Today:
    Top 20 Salons of the Year – Design Award

    Salon Today:
    Top 200 Fastest Growing Salons in America

    Salon Today:
    Top 200 in Customer Service

    Salon Today:
    Top 200 in Employee Compensation & Benefits

    GalStyles.com:
    Top 10 Best and Most Popular Salons in America

    The Pitch:
    Best Spa, Best Hair Removal

    Bank of America:
    Small Business Champions

    Ingram’s Magazine:
    Gold Award for Best Salon and Spa

    KC Chamber of Commerce:
    Top 10 Small Businesses of the Year