One evening last month, a festive atmosphere of flamenco and salsa dancers accompanied by Spanish music drew a large gathering of clients and friends who attended the party marking the first-year anniversary for Voilà Hair Atelier salon at Fairbanks Village Plaza in Rancho Santa Fe.

The event was in keeping with the heritage of salon owner and designer Luis Angel, who was born and raised in Cuba.

Angel opened his business last May, and since then the salon has grown and gone through upgraded physical changes, he said. But the high quality of service for his clients remains the same.

Changes to the salon’s interior have created a boutique setting in the store’s front. Fashion shoes and gold and gemstone jewelry, fine quality leather wallets and handbags and other retail gift items and gift certificates are displayed and available for purchase.

The full-service salon still maintains its high-caliber team of hair and make-up stylists with a combined training background with Paul Mitchell, Vidal Sassoon, and Toni&Guy.

“We offer color treatments, precision cuts, styling, highlights and hair extensions with everything custom-based for each client,” said Angel.

The salon’s range of high-end hair products, which include Oribe, Number Four and L’Oreal Professional, are still available, along with a new line of La Bella Donna mineral-based make-up merchandise.

Recently welcomed to Angel’s team of hair and beauty professionals is a masseuse, Nadine, who works in the salon on Monday and Tuesday. Pedicure benches have been added to the back of the salon for a more comfortable, relaxed pedicure treatment, and full-service manicures and skin treatments are still offered.

“Now clients can come here have a facial, a massage, a shampoo, blow-dry and make-up and then they are ready to go to their party,” said Angel.

Angel cultivated a unique approach to hair, make-up and beauty by training through the top stylists in England, Tony&Guy. He brings his signature skills to his own salon, in Building #1, Suite 13 in Fairbanks Village Plaza (16236 San Dieguito Road, Rancho Santa Fe, 92067). The salon’s interior decor creates relaxation with its palette of soft natural earth tones.

“It’s in good taste, creating an elegant and sophisticated vibe,” Angel said. And the background music, with the retro sounds of Frank Sinatra and soothing jazz or classical favorites, enhances the unhurried atmosphere.

The salon location in the heart of Fairbanks Ranch contrasts to Angel’s roots, being born and raised in Havana, where his desire to style hair came at a young age. As a 14-year-old, he would follow his mother to the hair salon to see how the process was done and knew that this was his professional calling.

Reaching adulthood, Angel moved to London to train at the Toni&Guy city center salon on Bond Street. There he learned the skill of precision cutting and color treatments for which he is famed today.

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