Brand New and Already Bursting
Last month Celebrity Hairstylist, Hasblady Guzman, cut the ribbon around her new Bokaos Aveda, Renaissance Hair Studio Salon at the Americana in Glendale. With two other successful salons in the LA area, Hasblady is a veteran salon owner who knows just how make her guests feel at home. Followed to the new location by a loyal staff of fabulous stylists (including her brother, Alfred, whose been working as a stylist for Aveda for over fifteen years) Hasblady’s team of highly trained professionals are ready to treat you to a top-of-the line beauty experience in a bright, new location.
Walking into the lobby, it is clear Hasblady has perfected the ultimate salon atmosphere. Bright and open, the classic Aveda white and black is punctuated by pristine snowy orchids and a glowing crystal chandelier above the front desk. What really makes everything light up though, are the genuine smiles there to greet you.
It’s obvious that every member of the staff is happy to be working at Bokaos, and they’re even more delighted that you’ve dropped by for their beauty expertise.
One Big Happy
I asked Megan, one of the ever-smiling attendants whose job it is to assist the more high-profile stylists, why she liked working at Bokaos. Her face lit up. "Oh", she said, “everybody knows everybody here. It’s like we’re all a family". Indeed this makes sense. Spearheaded by a pair of extremely talented siblings, when you walk into Bokaos you can feel that Hasblady and Alfred are ready to welcome you into their family as well.
After meeting Debbie, the floor manager on Saturdays whose warm, grounded smile makes guests feel like they’re onto something good, I was then introduced to my stylist, Renada Elden. I could tell from her intelligent questions and sincere interest in my needs, that Renada connects with her clients as individuals almost immediately. After all, after only about a minute of talking with her, Renada and I were already in genuine conversation about the human heart. “The heart is like a muscle", Renada remarked, pinning a black apron around my shoulders, “The more you use it, the stronger it gets".
The Best in Beauty Expertise
Turns out Renada’s styling capability is just as a profound as her philosophy on love. Born in Czechoslovakia, Renada lived in Germany for many years before coming to the US when she was nineteen. She’s always had a hand in beauty, working in the field in Europe until she came to America. She met the founder of Aveda in the states, who immediately recognized her superior natural talent and invited her to work for Aveda. “The Aveda philosophy was new to me then,” Renada remembers, “But Aveda’s concept of beauty coming from within really resonated with me. I knew I was home." And the rest is history. Renada has been working as a stylist for Aveda ever since, her loyalty to a specific company uncommon in the chaotic world of professional beauty service. But this stylist knows what she loves about being beautiful, and from her place of confidence and expertise, she makes it her job at Bokaos to help you discover what you love about beauty too. From her careful examination of my face shape and the symetry of my features, I knew I could trust Renada with exactly what kind of look would be best for me as an individual. The coloring and haircut I received from her was right on, and from the looks of the clients around me, it seemed all the stylists were as individual and skilled in their work.
Salon with a Spa Feeling
As any salon junkie knows, getting the perfect style can take a few hours at least. As I settle
d in with Renada and her attendants buzzing and clipping and coloring around me, I honestly never thought for a moment that it was taking too long. At Bokaos, guests are invited to relax and find a place of peace, providing a skilled staff to help get you there. Bokaos treats their guests to multiple hand treatments, head massages, neck massages, a free makeup consultation, one of the best brow treatments around, all between cups of freshly brewed sweet tea and your primary hair care service.
Around the World
The high-quality services and the intelligent, down to earth staff at Bokaos sets this new hub apart from other beauty salons. However, Hasblady’s new salon has another dimension that is hard to come by. Born in the Manizal coffee region of Columbia, Hasblady is used to an international culture. As a celebrity stylist she works with clients who have an international presence. Now she has created an environment in Glendale that is a bit like stepping into a whole new cross-cultural world. Some of Bokaos’ top stylists have learned their skills overseas and Renada pointed out that what plays over the sound system is fabulously eclectic as well. Alfred, Hasblady’s brother, is responsible for laying down the fresh, international play lists that always keep things upbeat at Bokaos. Renada loves the mix, saying that it’s always "surprising", and "always fun". Indeed, Alfred doesn’t underestimate the freshness in variety – during my visit, I heard everything from Sexy Back by JT to the hottest beats on the global frontier.
Giving Back
While inside the salon the environment is indeed worldly and sophisticated, Hasblady also has an eye on the world beyond Bokaos’ doors. Hasblady aligns herself closely with the Aveda mission statement which reads, “To care for the world we live in, from the products that we make to the ways in which we give back to society. At Aveda, we strive to set an example for environmental leadership and responsibility, not just in the world of beauty but around the world". Taking this tremendous philosophy to new heights, Hasblady has turned her new salon into a center for charitable efforts. “Hasblady feels very passionately about children and the environment”, Renada explains to me, “so we work closely with the organization, Charity: Water". Renada pointed to her shirt, a black tank emblazoned with the words "Charity: Water" in rhinestones. Looking around, I noticed all the stylists and staff were dressed in similar, sexy "Charity: Water" apparel.
Charity: Water
Charity: Water is an organization founded by Scott Harrison, an individual dedicated to bringing clean drinking 
water to the poorest countries in Africa. 1.1 billion people in the world don’t have access to clean water and the resulting diseases are horrific and endless. Now, Scott has designed a system where we can purchase a “charity water” bottle for only twenty dollars and, in turn, provide clean drinking water to an African child for one whole year. To learn all about Scott’s ground breaking charity and ways that you can help, visit charity: water on line. You can also stop by the Bokoas salon in Glendale where Charity Water is on sale along with the strikingly cute, Charity: Water clothing line. Scott, a friend of Hasblady’s, was at Bokaos’ ribbon cutting grand-opening last month for the start of their exciting collaboration.
Next time you want to treat yourself and the world, head up to Glendale to the new Bokaos Salon and Renaissance Hair Studio at the Americana. You’ll find a truly relaxing experience, an Aveda family you want to be a part of, and the look that’s just right for you!
Bokaos Salon and Renaissance Hair Studio
Americana at Brand
Glendale, CA 91201
(818) 240-3329
www.bokaos.com
