Who we are
Carla Gentile, Nicole Hartmann and Nikki Pittam live each day in pursuit of their life’s purpose – to provide unconditional quality in performance and service for every client. Motivated by this collective passion, the inner-most desire of bringing excellence to their craft led them to the creation of HARPER where they are able to fulfill their life’s mission every day.
When these three women realized the combined power of their talent, knowledge of the industry, and depth of experience would lead to a better salon environment for everyone, they aligned themselves with other creative and motivated professionals who are also invested in their clients well-being, the success of one another, and the community at large.
What's in a name?
The name HARPER is Scottish and means patience and courage. It's significant because the salon is nestled among similar artisan shops in the emerging cultural district of West Hollywood, an area that’s attracting pioneers in fashion, food and lifestyle.
Behind the big blue doors, the space is wide-open, loft-like with high ceilings, exposed brick walls and tall accordion glass doors that open to the sidewalk flooding the room with plenty of fresh air and natural sunlight. Earth-tone colors, reclaimed wood cabinetry from Arbor Exchange and furniture sourced from Mid-Century LA to complete the modern, industrial aesthetic with a zen-like vibe.
“We want it to feel more like a home than a salon,” said Nicole. “This is where we are different from other salons. Our clients come here to feel nurtured, not pressured and we want them to carry that feeling with them when they leave.”
Our approach is daring, not different
“HARPER has a deep connection to the vibe of Los Angeles, the modern and nonconformist spirit of it. There’s a reason the world’s most stylishly creative people come to this city, they like the way that people move, look and dress here and our stylists know how to work it,” says Carla, the former owner of Steam salon.
Yet as daring as their approach to hair is, LA’s newest women owned salon is highly cultivated. “Reflecting our own personal style, we offer what could be called a modern take on hair - creative enough for a rock star performance, polished enough for the career professional, or effortlessly chic enough for the farmer’s market,” explains Nikki. “We create styles that stand out, but also styles our clients feel more than confident enough to wear.”
“We want the total experience to be rich for everyone,” they collectively agree. “To us, if you want to stand out, you’ve got to stand up and that will be our legacy.”
