“Bangs & Burns – A Personalized Salon” - The brass plaque that adorns the entrance to Bangs & Burns pretty much says it all!
Owned and operated solely by Scott Harris, Bangs & Burns is located at 108 South Patrick Street in Old Town Alexandria. Like the headline says – it is a one-man show in a one-room shop! The little gray building located between Misha’s Coffee Shop and the Old Town Crier houses everything a great hairdresser needs to transform clientele from shaggy to shorn and from drab to dazzling!
Harris has been “bending hair” since 1986! Starting his career in his home state of North Carolina, Scott spent 6 years working for stylist and hair product mogul Paul Mitchell. During this time he spent a lot of time traveling the east coast. He settled in Alexandria in the mid 90’s and opened Bangs & Burns in 1997. Transforming the one room – there is a small bathroom as well but it is SMALL – building from a total mess, Harris has put his personal touch on the space several times over the last 13 years. We have watched the décor range from very “boutique” to its current very “contemporary” look. This really is amazing since when he opened the door to look at the space, there was more foliage growing on the inside of the building than on the outside!!
Having spent a portion of his early career working in much larger salons, Scott decided that the only way to give his clients truly personal attention was to operate with one shampoo bowl, one chair and one dryer! Both my partner here at the Crier and I are clients of his so I can speak from personal experience. I am very particular about my hair and Scott “gets it”! This is evident when he tells me that over 80% of his clientele have been with him for several years. On the day of my interview, Jennifer Ferreira - the client in his chair - realized that she had been going to Scott for over 10 years! We decided that she must have been 15 years old when she started.
Bangs and Burns is a full service hair salon. Scott isn’t a fan of curling irons since he believes in keeping your hair healthy so he works his magic with his round brushes and expert use of product. I also have to mention that he does wonders with color. He has totally incorporated my “natural platinum highlights” with a little bit of blonde to enhance them.
For the guys out there reading this, Bangs & Burns is a great place for you as well. Hence the “Burns” part of the name. Scott has several male clients including my partner, who will tell anyone who asks that he actually looks like he has more hair after he has spent some time in the chair. Guess you just have to see it to believe it!
You will find, as you would expect, Paul Mitchell products along with Redken, American Crew and ISO on sale in the shop. While the inventory isn’t vast, it includes all that you need to maintain your new do!
For those readers who like the hustle and bustle and the gossip in a big salon, Bangs & Burns isn’t the salon for you. However, if you want to feel extremely special, totally relax and just gossip with Scott (there isn’t anyone else there to spread the rumors except him) you should call and make an appointment today!!
Bangs & Burns is open Tuesday through Saturday and appointments are highly recommended, however, walk-ins are certainly welcomed! See the ad for Bangs & Burns in the fitness section of this issue for more information.
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