The first thing you notice when you walk into Rowdy Roots Salon isn’t the sound of hairdryers — it’s the feeling that you’ve stepped into something different.
Bold pop-art portraits line the walls. Soft lighting glows beneath an oxygen bar where colorful bottles bubble quietly. There’s coffee, wine, and the hum of conversation — not rushed, not sterile, but warm and welcoming.
Rowdy Roots Salon, now located in Adams Township, has quickly become known for blending artistry, wellness, and community in a way few salons attempt.
“I never wanted it to feel sterile or rushed,” said owner Pamela Erskine — known to most as Pammie. “I wanted people to feel like they could exhale.”
For Erskine, the journey to owning Rowdy Roots Salon began long before she ever held professional shears. It started in her grandmother’s basement, with blue rollers, a patient grandfather, and a little girl pretending to be a hairdresser.
“I ran away every weekend just so I could go play hairdresser in the basement,” Erskine said with a laugh.
Today, more than 32 years into her career, Erskine — who prefers to go by Pammie — has created something far beyond a traditional salon. Rowdy Roots is part creative studio, part wellness space, and part community living room, built on decades of experience and deeply personal roots.
A Grandmother’s Legacy
Pammie credits much of her success to her grandmother, who was also a hairdresser and played a critical role in helping her get through beauty school.
“I probably wouldn’t have ever gotten there had it not been for her,” Pammie said. “She helped me juggle school, work, and paying bills. She made it possible.”
That influence still lives inside the salon. Pammie keeps her grandmother’s original hair-cutting case on display — not as décor, but as a reminder of where it all began.
“That case is where it all started,” she said. “It means everything to me.”
More Than a Haircut
Erskine has owned five salons throughout her career, but she says Rowdy Roots represents a new chapter — one focused on individuality, wellness, and experience.
“For me, it was always about the experience, not just the haircut,” she said. “I want people to feel comfortable, relaxed, and like they’re somewhere totally different.”
That philosophy shows up everywhere — from the salon’s bold pop-art portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot to its unexpected amenities: an oxygen bar, a coffee bar, wine, snacks, and cozy spaces where clients can unwind.
The oxygen bar, one of the salon’s most talked-about features, delivers up to 95 percent purified oxygen infused with different scents, each offering specific benefits. Many clients use it while their color processes, turning waiting time into a wellness moment.
“It’s about giving people something extra,” Pammie said. “Something they can’t get anywhere else.”
Innovation in the Chair
Known especially for dramatic makeovers, Pammie prides herself on helping clients discover a version of themselves they didn’t know they were ready for.
“Sometimes it’s not what they thought they wanted when they walked in,” she said. “But almost always, they’re thrilled when they leave.”
Rowdy Roots also sets itself apart with specialized techniques, including charcoal lightening — an alternative to traditional bleach that helps maintain hair integrity without harsh chemicals.
“The hair stays healthier. There’s no smell. There are so many benefits,” Pammie explained.
Part Stylist, Part Therapist
After decades behind the chair, Pammie knows that hair appointments are about more than appearances.
“You hear about everything,” she said. “The good, the bad, the heartbreaking. People trust you. They talk. You’re their outlet.”
It’s a role she embraces fully.
“They joke and say, ‘Thanks for my therapy session,’” she said. “But it’s true. They’re not being judged here. They just get to be themselves.”
A Salon with Community Roots
Whether she was located in downtown Mars or now in Adams Township, Pammie believes small businesses have a responsibility to give back.
“If we’re supported by the community, we owe it to support back,” she said, pointing to local fundraisers and baskets for regional charities as just one example.
She’s also excited about the future of Rowdy Roots — growing her team, adding new services like lashes, and possibly even expanding to another location one day.
Finding Her Niche — and Her Confidence
Today, Pammie is booked about a month in advance — a milestone that still surprises her when she looks back at how quickly things grew after reopening in Mars with no established clientele.
“You just have to find your niche,” she said. “And don’t be afraid to try. You’ll always regret what you didn’t try more than what you did.”
As she locks up at night, one moment always brings it home.
“When I look up at my sign,” Pammie said, “this is the first time, in five locations, that I was able to put my own sign up. That feeling never gets old.”
Rooted in family, fueled by faith, and driven by creativity, Rowdy Roots Salon is more than a business — it’s a reflection of Pammie herself, built one client, one conversation, and one bold idea at a time.
https://www.rowdyrootssalon.com
