On a Thursday evening at the tail end of June, just steps away from the highly anticipated Seaholm District, local celebrities and discerning Austinites celebrated the grand opening of a new standard of luxury in hair salons: Deseo Salon. Among them was InFluential Magazine’s own William Jackson and the July / August issue’s cover model Cabil. Notable attendees included Major and Julie Applewhite; Perri Beathard, Owner of PerriBerri Boutique in Bee Cave; Julia Vie, Owner of Vivian’s Muse Boudoir Photography; and of course Wendy Walicek, Owner of Deseo Salon, and lead Deseo Salon stylist straight out of one of New York’s finest salons, Fabien Roussel.
Guests savored delicious food provided by Truluck’s while sipping on cocktails, enjoying sounds provided by DJ Chris Scull, and taking in the chill vibes exuded by the salon’s decor. The urban, minimalist-inspired salon occupies 815 sq. ft. of raw concrete floors and 12 foot ceilings. Jonathan Wagner of Ten Gallon Hat Designs created what clients are calling a zen-like atmosphere with his custom build-out, which includes a unique living plant wall designed by Articulture Designs.
Owned by renowned colorist Wendy Walicek, Deseo Salon is the future of luxury hair color and design. “I wanted to revolutionize the every essence of a stereotypical hair salon and give each client what they truly desire for their look,” said Walicek. “Deseo is a culmination of inspiration from all over the world, mostly focused on the Latin regions. Inspired by the unmatched experience I had at a hotel in Playa del Carmen, the goal of Deseo is to transport our clients to a place where they instantly feel welcome, relaxed and at the same time energized.”
With a proven track record for providing the highest level of service to Austin’s elite, Deseo is proud to name country music artist Jack Ingram, actor-writer-producer Todd Allen, and Emmy-Award winning television host Whitney Casey, among others, on its loyal, national celebrity client roster. Deseo is equally proud to style Austin’s socialite community, including Truluck’s Operating Partner David Tripoli, By George boutique owner Katy Culmo, and Touch of Sass boutique owner Currie Bucher.
The salon’s location hip downtown local in the retail section of Gables West Avenue was strategically chosen due to its proximity to the West 6th Street retail district, Whole Foods flagship market, and popular warehouse entertainment and dining areas. Jennifer Smith of Austin Tenant Advisors represented Deseo Salon in locating the space and the transaction.
Pictures courtesy of Brianna McKinney Photography.
This article originally ran in InFluential Magazine on July 19, 2012.