#GREEN TWIG SALON UPDATE#

Color-coordinated displays of her creations in silver, semi-precious stones, and beads ($79 to $1,400) line wooden cases inside the store, while artifacts, statues, and masks, such as an imposing Salampasu war mask from central Africa ($695), occupy the walls, floor, and other surfaces. With the expanded store space, the Guarinis also have much more room to showcase Gilbertina's jewelry. 'We like to specialize in jewelry, but I've always carried statues from around Asia, and I wanted to expand that because of the space,' says Bruno, who hunts for new objects, as well as beads, silver, and other materials for his wife, on his frequent trips abroad. Green Twig is open by appointment, Tuesday through Saturday.Īnyone who has ventured into Bruno and Gilbertina Guarini's Qoio (pronounced 'Coy-yo') boutique underneath Artsake on 24th Street knows there isn't room for a six-foot-tall statue of the Buddha or an ambitious potted bamboo plant to live inside the small store space devoted to Gilbertina's colorful, handmade jewelry.īut with the April opening of a second Qoio location on 24th Street (the third location in San Francisco), in the space formerly occupied by Cottage Industry, the husband-and-wife team-who live in the apartment behind the first Qoio with their daughters Kirsten, 12, and Natalie, 9-have created an indoor-outdoor showroom not only for Gilbertina's one-of-a-kind accessories, but also for Bruno's finds from Southeast Asia, Africa, and beyond. Blevins also does wedding hairstyling and updos.

The salon, which carries Australian product line Kusco-Murphy, offers cuts ($70 and up), highlights ($100 and up), and color services ($80 and up). To cut down on waste, Nelson rejuvenated the cabinets and shampoo bowls from the previous occupants. A panel of recycled glass tiles on the back wall glints in the sunlight that streams in from the salon's large front windows, whose blinds are made of bamboo and wheat material. Low-VOC (nearly fumeless) paint was used to coat the walls in pale-green hues, and the orange storage units beside each station are composed of non-toxic, recyclable plastic. 'I wanted to design this place like I live at home, which is as eco-friendly as possible,' says Nelson. One of the key goals of the redesign was going green.

#GREEN TWIG SALON UPDATE#

'It's great to work with close friends,' says York, who is also a commercial photographer.īefore opening, Nelson closed down the space for a month to paint and update its interiors, which were designed by San Francisco's Zega Designs. Over the years, they've worked together at at least six salons, Nelson estimates. Nelson and York met while training at Toni & Guy International in Dallas during the late 1980s, and Nelson met Blevins at another Texas salon about 17 years ago. The three friends are San Francisco transplants who originally hail from Texas and have spent close to two decades styling hair. Along with her came longtime friends and fellow stylists Sheri Blevins and Bobby York.īut Nelson, Blevins, and York have more in common than their past and current workplaces. We do a lot of wearable hair,' says Dana Nelson, who opened Green Twig salon on July 3 in the Church Street space that formerly housed Jaboh.Įarlier this year, Nelson decided to venture out on her own after the Pacific Heights salon where she worked was sold.

You won't find many pink heads, hair extensions, or extreme cuts walking out the door of Noe Valley's newest salon.

This month we shine a spotlight on an eco-friendly hair salon on Church Street and a sparkling jewelry store and statuary garden on 24th Street. Store Trek is a regular Voice feature profiling new shops and businesses in Noe Valley.