Photo courtesy of Parlour Von Kopp.

After deciding to grow his own beard several years ago, Minneapolis-based master hair care stylist, Zach Von Kopp, realized that there was something missing in the men’s grooming market: excellent beard care. Using his background in the beauty industry, Zach decided to formulate his own all-natural products – centralized around beard care – using essential oils in addition to avocado and argan oils. Zach and his wife/business partner, Kara, have expanded the Parlour Von Kopp selection to include all-natural, handmade grooming products, women’s hair and skin care and aromatherapy.

Learn more about Parlour Von Kopp apothecary, story in our exclusive Modern Midwest Q&A.

Modern Midwest: Tell us a little about yourself. What’s your background?
Kara Kopp: Zach is a master stylist at Juut SalonSpa and Kara is a textile designer, currently designing for Target. We have 2 daughters, Odella (3) and Tallulah (1)

MM: Tell us about your company.
KK: Parlour Von Kopp is a hair and skin care focused company that delivers all natural, hand crafted apothecary products. We are passionate about men’s grooming and beard care, women’s hair and skin care, and amazing aromatherapy for all.

MM: When/why was it born?
KK: Zach’s signature long red beard was bushy and untamed, the skin underneath dry and itchy. It didn’t take long to realize that he wasn’t alone in these complaints—even strangers stopped him to talk beard ’druff and scalpface. A Minneapolis-based master stylist well-versed in hair care since entering the beauty industry in 2007, Zach combed the market for beard care products, but was left unsatisfied. So he began experimenting himself. A breakthrough came in the discovery of avocado and argan oils, both known for their hair-smoothing, skin-soothing benefits. These, alongside a proprietary blend of aromatic essential oils, form the all-natural blend that is Parlour Von Kopp’s first and hero product, Wunder Bart Beard Oil.

MM: What’s your creative process like?
KK: We do tons of research on our different ingredients, followed by lots experimenting and testing. We have a blast smell-testing everything! We probably had the most fun blending our 5 perfume oils – we spent a few sunday afternoons drinking champagne and making interesting combinations of essential oils! We made over 50, let them sit for 2 weeks to “meld” and then narrowed to our top five, ensuring that we catered to all tastes – floral, citrus, bright, woodsy, and sweet.

MM: What makes the Midwest, specifically Minnesota, special?
KK: Minnesota is pretty magical – we have brutal winters, but people don’t hide!!! Our favorite part about Minnesota is that people bundle up and show up!

MM: What’s one thing a non-Minnesota native should know about the city?
KK: There is always something interesting to do and a new restaurant to try!

MM: Where do you get your inspiration?
KK: We have a joint love of curated vintage and are inspired by 1900s-era apothecaries, mid-century industrial modern, hand touched wood and natural crystals. We are super excited by all the healing properties of essential oils, beyond that fact that they smell amazing! We love all things natural, and strive to offer our customer the best, nature-derived product that we can. Zach also gets great joy from solving beard related problems!

MM: What’s something new – or challenging – that you’re working on?
KK: We are always thinking of new products to explore – right now, we are thinking about a beard wash and shaving oil, as well as home fragrances.

Shop a variety of S2BH’s functional art at Modern Midwest’s first-ever “Modern Market” in Minneapolis’ North Loop. In addition to S2BH, a carefully curated selection of local makers will showcase their goods at Modern Market – all of which embody the Midwest’s distinct take on modern living. Enjoy local food and drink, live music and art while supporting the Minneapolis maker community!