J Salon
Owners: Joe Randazzo and Gary Casupang
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Opened: October 1, 2008
Total square feet: 2,500
Salon setup: 13 styling stations,
1 color bar

Located in picturesque Honolulu, J Salon (jsalon.com) was designed by owner Joe Randazzo and manager Gary Casupang. The salon has 150 feet of window space, and is located at the corner of a busy street a block from the most-frequented movie theater on the island. "Part of our strategy to create curiosity about the salon was to keep the view from the outside into the salon unobstructed," Casupang says. "We leave on key spotlights at night, to attract the attention of movie-goers and passers-by."

With a space as gorgeous as J Salon, it's a good strategy. With black and purple motifs throughout the 2,500-square foot space, a 22-foot-long color bar, brightly colored retail area with clean lines and a modern design, J Salon was set for its successful October 2008 opening. (It was even voted the best salon in Hawaii by Elle magazine!)

Here, Casupang points out the important elements of the design:

"Everyone wants to sit at the color bar. It has become the focal point of the salon and the hub of a lot of excitement and interaction. Our color bar was designed to take away the mystery of hair color for the client and to create hype and excitement around the color department. All color and supplies are housed in our 22-foot-long color bar, eliminating the need for a color dispensary. Stylists formulate and mix hair color in full view of the client, fostering a more interactive and personalized experience. Color is applied at the color bar. It also doubles as an actual bar, where our bartender mixes cocktails during client events and soirees."

"The backbar/shampoo area is private and secluded. Situated behind eight-foot-tall black acrylic panels, the shampoo area is away from the hustle and bustle of the styling floor so clients can relax in the gently illuminated area. The shampoo units are slightly angled, allowing clients and stylists to easily maneuver throughout the area. Backbar bottles are neatly housed in a custom-designed counter, completely eliminating clutter."

"We created a space that is reflective of our obsession for clean lines and modernist design. We wanted to create a space that excites and inspires our staff and our clients."

J Salon carries Kerastase and Shu Uemura products and treatments. For each client, a J Salon stylist will select the in-salon treatment best suited for the client's hair type, and will also prescribe personalized home-care regimes.