Salon a cut above the rest

Rima Shah

Shelley Barnhart, owner of the Shampagne Hair Studio, says that once

people step into her hair salon, they’ll never want to go home.

The 14,000-square-foot salon is decorated with warm colors,

plants, chandeliers and Old World, wrought-iron furniture, all of

which gives it a homey feel.

“I’ve been in so many salons in Burbank, and they all have the

same motif going on,” Barnhart said. “I had wanted my own salon for

several years, and I knew exactly what I wanted it to look like.”

The centerpiece of the salon is a table in the waiting area. It

was once a cushioned seat, and Barnhart removed the cushion and

replaced it with a glass top.

The glass covers antique barbering and cosmetic tools, including

an old-fashioned hair dryer, scissors, a mirror and a comb.

But loyal clients said it is not just the decor of the salon that

makes clients never want to leave and keep coming for more -- it’s

also the way they end up looking.

Terri Curtis, a Burbank resident, has been a client of Barnhart’s

for about 11 years.

Curtis has been coming to Barnhart’s new salon for all her beauty

needs after starting as just a hair customer.

Shampagne is a full-service hair studio with nails service and

will also have an aesthetician starting April 1.

The salon employs about 12 people, all of whom relearn their

skills at least once a year.

Barnhart, a former Miss Burbank runner-up, has been in the

business for about 11 years.

“I’ve always been a girlie-girl,” she said. “I always enjoyed

making people look pretty.”

She worked in salons in Glendale and Burbank and decided to start

her studio in November.

“Your relationship with your hairstylist is more sacred than with

your doctors,” said Jana Peters, one of the hairstylists who works at

the salon. “You’re trusting someone with how you would look on the

outside.”