Foxy Hair Designs in Linda Vista
A hair care essential
In today’s post, we feature one of downtown Linda Vista’s most popular businesses—Foxy Hair Designs, located at the Linda Vista Plaza Shopping Center (6937 Linda Vista Road).
We thought featuring this business was appropriate in light of the impact the pandemic has imposed on the ability to visit our hair salons or barbershops.
With the closure of hair salons and barbershops, both men and women have experienced the absence of a routine necessary to keep up our appearances. Paying a visit to our favorite barber or hair stylist was something we took for granted during our pre-pandemic days, but with the closure of these establishments we were quickly reminded how valuable they and the people who work there have become to maintaining our physical appearance as well as our mental well-being. After all, as the old adage goes—If you look good, you feel good! Yes, taking care of our hair is serious stuff. It’s one thing to run out of paper towels at the supermarket because of the pandemic. It’s quite another to go for a long time without getting your hair cut.
In fact, before reading all about Foxy Hair Designs, we thought you would be interested in an unscientific poll undertaken by The Linda Vista Update. In this poll, we discovered the top five things encountered by men and women when there is no access to barbershops or hair salons:
Men:
1. You start looking more and more like your early 70’s high school yearbook photo.
2. People start asking if you’re a resident of Ocean Beach.
3. While walking around the neighborhood, someone calls out the name “Shaggy”, and you answer “Yes?” only to find out that person was calling their dog.
4. You look in the mirror and Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page stares back at you—not the blond haired 1960’s version, but the elderly white haired 2020 version.
5. You reach into your hair and find the missing TV remote.
Women:
1. More pony-tails swinging behind ladies of a certain age.
2. More hats, including straw, baseball caps and floppies.
3. Wigs that haven’t been used for 20 or more years.
4. More unibrows.
5. Lots of uneven bangs.
FOXY HAIR DESIGNS:
A LINDA VISTA LANDMARK SINCE 1986
My husband and I love living in the Linda Vista area. When possible, we try to patronize local establishments. One such establishment where I have been a loyal client for about 15 years or more is Foxy Hair Designs, located near Rite Aid in the Linda Vista Plaza Shopping Center. This is a family-owned establishment with some of the friendliest and most competent hair stylists you will ever meet. Recently, an intern cub reporter, Nicole P. interviewed the owner, Amy Phakdy, for The Linda Vista Update and we thank her for her excellent work.
Hair Salon: Foxy Hair Designs
This salon was opened in Linda Vista in March 1986. The location was chosen because at that time, there was not a hair salon, so this was going to be the first. It is a convenient location for serving the Linda Vista community. Many customers are from the surrounding community.
The salon has seen many changes over the year, according to the owner. The neighborhood has become more diverse, housing has increased, and crime seems to have gone down, with less gang activity. There has also been a change in the stores that are located in the Shopping Center, including new ones opening.
When asked about the latest trends in hair styles including color, Amy stated that Balayage ombre (a French coloring technique), is very popular. Other trends include vibrant hair colors, side swept bangs, and short layered hair. One of the stylists, Jackie, can often be seen with a touch of pink or purple in her hair. Amy said they keep up with the latest trends through Instagram and Pinterest.
Although women make up the majority of the clientele, many men can be seen at the establishment getting their hair cut in the latest styles.
Many of the salon’s clients are long time clients, but there is a good mixture with new clients often being referred by the old-timers.
During the first COVID-19 closing, Amy states they were inundated with calls about when they would reopen. People wanted to schedule their appointments as soon as possible after re-opening. Many safeguards were put in place to assure the safety of the client and the stylist, including face guards, distancing, and a reduction of numbers of stylists and clients in the salon at one time. People were very devastated when the state again ordered the closing of salons.
During the re-opening, Amy said she did not notice any clients who were afraid to have their hair done as they could tell all guidelines were being followed, the salon was safe and clean, and clients had to wear masks
When asked how the pandemic affected the business, predictably, Amy said she was affected financially and mentally. She indicated she misses and loves her clients and that she realized she needs her clients as much as they need her.
Foxy Hair Designs is a full-service salon. They have four stylists, Amy, Judy, Vicki and Jackie. They are all experts in any and all kinds of hair care. If your hair is short, long, in between, if you need highlights, lowlights, root cover, those fancy treatments mentioned above, if you have a wedding party that needs hair and makeup, or many other types of services, Foxy Hair Designs is your place. Prices are competitive. During “normal” times, appointments are suggested, but walk-ins were also serviced. With the re-opening, appointments were required and there was no waiting inside the salon. Let’s hope that things get back to normal soon. When Foxy is open again, give them a try and I’m sure you will be a returning client like me.
AMY PHAKDY, OWNER, FOXY HAIR DESIGNS
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