In the face of wasteful and harmful environmental practices in mainstream salons, it didn’t take long before the founder of Hemp House, Samantha Harron, decided it was time to open her dream salon, one that was sustainable and put the environment first in every way.

The walls of the salon are made from a natural biocomposite material called hempcrete. Hempcrete is created by mixing the hemp stock or "shiv" and a lime based binder to create a mold proof, rodent proof, fire resistant, biodegradable construction product. By choosing hempcrete, we were able to eliminate the use of exterior plywood, building paper, insulation, plastic vapour barrier, drywall and paint. Complementing the hempcrete, we used an all natural lime and sand plaster for our interior and exterior finishes. One of the special features of hempcrete, is that it creates a solid barrier that is beathable, allowing the wall to absorb and release moisture along with the seasons. Normal construction methods use vapour barriers and building paper to try to shield against the changing seasons. Hempcrete works with the natural environment, allowing airflow and circulation within the building all throughout the year. Unlike most materials, hempcrete actually absorbs carbon from the environment, and is therefore considered a carbon positive product. During it's growth and curing process it absorbs or converts carbon instead of releasing it. As hemp grows, it converts carbon into oxygen, as the plant dries and as the hempcrete cures, it absorbs carbon from the surrounding environment, creating what is known as a carbon sink.