The innovative AANUKO saloon opens its doors in the heart of the art district of Culver City! Discover an invigorating yet bespoke habitat of Los Angeles, accompanied by unparalleled coiffeurs, a podcast room and a dedicated photo studio to document your hair journey.
Vaughn Lowery had the opportunity to chat with AANUKO’s CEO and President David Alfonso about the new shop in its entirety. Listen their full conversation on the 360 MAG Apple/Spotify podcast HERE.
Officially opening their doors on August 2, the AAPI-owned grooming facility is reshaping the barber scene from a previous dull, disengaging vibe one haircut at a time. AANUKO considers the relationship between the client and the hairdresser to be sacred. A symbiotic exchange of creativity and trust.
The living space that is home to AANUKO cultivates creativity and community, unlike other conventional barbershops. With a strong team of people taking care of clients, when walking into AANUKO, you’ll instantaneously feel at home. What began as a passion project has swiftly grown into a venture that aims to embody creativity and connection through the art of hair care.
CEO David Alfonso admits that AANUKO is passion project. He recounts, “I wanted to reimagine the barbershop concept by immersing it into an unfamiliar aesthetic, but with a strangely nostalgic aesthetic … as if we were walking towards ‘a Gucci Boutique in Paris or New York in the 1980s.”
Though the barbershop is tailored towards men’s haircare, AANUKO is a unisex enterprise. Each customer takes away much more than a haircut from each visit; they earn knowledge about their own hair types, strategies they can implement to treat their hair, and an overall sense of connection with their barbers.
Draped in jaw dropping interior, the barbershop is nestled in West Los Angeles. Alfonso explained that AANUKO aims to push the envelope and exceed what other Los Angeles spaces look like. Inspired by using color, the team at AANUKO employs the theme of approaching life with a rebellious mindset.
Immerse yourself in the unforgettable atmosphere with a French bohemian theme. Each trip to the barbershop invite’s customers into a fully immersive environment. From the beautiful café serving free cocktails to the photo studio where guests can indulge in content creation, haircut visits begin at $85. Barbers take careful time to relate with customers, ensuring they get the most out of their appointment.
Alfonso further elaborates, “It’s all about an artistic, rebellious approach to reimage what we think would be a really cool space to make people feel good while getting their haircut.”
While the styling of AANUKO definitely sets it apart from other spots, Alfonso made sure to emphasize the true highlight of the design at the barbershop. To Alfonso, their eccentric, groundbreaking approach, “sets the stage, because I think the most important part of the décor is our team of barbers.”
Alfonso continued to rave about the talent of the workforce behind AANUKO. With a varied range of individuals that work together to ensure success, they all have a few things in common. From their impeccable physical skillset as artisans, to their crucifixion for their craft, each unit of AANUKO is dedicated to delivering a transformative impression.
David Alfonso asserts, “AANUKO provides a communal space for networking, content creation, and personal growth for the greater Los Angeles.” In addition, he adds, “Like god’s brand for all men’s hair … [we will] create an intimate connection with our brand with our customers.”
AANUKO celebrates their grand opening on August 2 at 5790 Washington Blvd. Their hours are 10 AM to 7 PM PST every Tuesday to Saturday. Reservations can be made HERE. Walk-ins accepted.
Article: McKinley Franklin, Andrea Esteban, Vaughn Lowery
