Rock 'n' Soul

Fred Segal Salon melds high-energy hair services with the pure spirituality.

Having just arrived home from his annual spiritual journey to India, Fred Segal Salon owner Matthew Preece is ready to do some hair, a few high-profile photo shoots and resume his yoga routine-all without leaving his premises.

Such is the way for his trendy salon in sunny Santa Monica, California, where high-energy stylists and clients are treated to a whole lot of beauty and a bit of Zen. "Our salon is definitely a mix of rock 'n' roll and spirituality," smiles Preece. "In our waiting area we have books on meditation mixed with those about film. The entire sa-lon is very modern and clean, yet I still have a Buddha statue at my station and at the entrance of our yoga/community/classroom and studio."
Since taking ownership of the former Fred Segal Beauty salon just two years ago, Preece has attracted a fine mix of session and dedicated salon stylists, as well as the attention of the surrounding community. "Our yoga studio is free to stylists and anyone working at Fred Segal Santa Monica," notes Preece. "It's a synergistic gathering point where great things can happen to the mind, body and soul-and business. We also actively support many events held by neighboring stores and local charity galas-doing hair for fashion events and anything else that brings attention to our salon and our community."
Preece admits that while much of his business involves love and laughter, he's a stickler when it comes to excellent hair services. "Everyone who works at our salon is dedicated to improving his or her craft," he notes. "To ensure that we're producing the finest work in all of SoCal, I notice every client leaving our salon. If the hair isn't right, I never hesitate to bring it to the stylist's at-tention. It's one of the reasons why so many top L.A. beauty pros have chosen to work at Fred Segal Salon. They want to produce the best and be the best stylists...always." Improving skills, of course, requires ongoing education-an integral part of the high-pow-ered, L.A. beauty scene where stylists either stay on the leading cusp of beauty innova-tion or watch their careers die overnight. "We offer continuing education to our staff, as well as workshop programs that are open to all stylists with a yearning to work with topnotch photographers, wardrobe stylists and makeup artists in a classroom setting," notes Preece. "It's an integral part of who we are and what we want to continue to be: top salon and top talent leading top-of-the-world beauty careers."

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