Salon Pop & Barber Shop

I am the type of gal who decides to get a haircut and then makes an appointment for the next day. So even though I had a great time at the last salon (you may remember my post about it), having to wait a week or more for an appointment was bumming me out. Also, it was weird being the only person in the salon (other than the woman sweeping up) who was not white. I loved the stylist, but the environment not so much.

I remember that my previous stylist Mona told me that Salon Pop in Long Beach is a good place to go, so I called 'em up and got an appointment for the next day with Beth, who is just awesome. That was a few months ago. I thought that if I still have a great experience on my second appointment, I'm gonna talk these people up on the blog.

I had a great time. First of all, Beth's dad is a professor, so we could kind of talk shop. She's super smart and sweet. Second of all, the place is decorated in a funky mod/pop/vintagey way that is really actually quite relaxing.


Old dresser/vanities are used as the stations. A bunch of art is on the walls, and people are very friendly. Thirdly, last night when I went in for my appointment, I realized that Beth and the shop have a serious True Blood connection!

One of the artists affiliated with the shop (her art is hanging on the walls there) did the paintings of vampires that are used on the Fangtasia location (aka Alex's Bar). And Beth knows the gal who did some location scouting for True Blood last season. This got a couple of other stylists into our conversation. Apparently they are all hooked on the show. We spent some time chatting about the show, the books, and how fun it would be to be extras in Fangtasia.

I got an amazing hair cut. And the shop is totally on top of this economic recession. They have a flyer all about how to get a hair cut that will grow out decent so you don't have to get cuts so much, and what products to use so that you don't screw up your color between sessions. When I thought I was going to get an IOU for a paycheck a few months ago, I had mentioned it to Beth in passing and she said to make sure to come in anyway because she could work something out with me if I was living on IOUs. I don't know what she would have done, but it's awesome that she thought about it. And to top it all off, when I paid and left, it was dark out, so the guy who was working the register (I think he's a barber as well) walked out the front door and made sure I got in my car. Dude!?

Anyway, they have a religious following on Yelp, but take it from me, the place is damn cool and I am pretty sure a great salon 6 blocks away is going to be my salon for a while.

Now...if I could only get involved in this business of becoming an extra....