Straight Styling

Victor Granados is no newbie when it comes to the art of hairstyling. Having been in the business for nearly thirty years, he definitely knows his stuff from root to tip. Now he’s off on his own on a new venture called Studio 99.

“My lucky number is nine and one of my investors also, her lucky number was 9,” he shares. “I decided just to call it Studio 99.  It just made sense to me.”

Will his choice prove providential? Only time will tell but Granados is confident he has what it takes to rise above the crowd by telling it like it is.

“I’m very honest with my clients.  I don’t try to bs them about product or how to take care of their hair or anything like that,” he states. “I think that honesty builds up a rapport with me and my clientele.”

He adds, “I think what’s made me successful is that I’m really just down to earth.”

Granados admits his clients tend to be on the conservative side, but believes he and his team in Pasadena start their own trends too.

“We are trend setters here in L.A. and everybody that works for me is always either in hair shows, in classes.” He adds, “There’s always an ongoing education with us.”

Pressed to reveal trends for hair in the spring and summer seasons, Granados replies, “Summertime, people like to wear less clothes so we have to dress up more of the hair, go blonder, highlights color-wise.  My clients love that.”

But the best trend right now? Going green. Granados says his salon is stocked with natural, biodegradable products. “[It] is 90% organic-free and seems to be our number one seller at this point,” he says.

This man isn’t all about hair though. Giving back to the community is important to Granados. Through his business he’s able to work along side the Great Pasadena Aid Fund. “I supply them with Gift Certificates so whenever they have their events, they can sell those and keep the money for their organizations.” He adds, “We pick up a new client here and there because they either haven’t heard of us or want to come and see us.”

Aside from giving free cuts to underprivileged kids, he and his team are participating in a benefit that would support some talented kids on their way to play at Carnegie Hall.

It isn’t everyday you come across a businessman who give it to you straight. Granados, however, is one guy who lives by the motto, “No frills, no mush, no nothing, just the plain truth.”

Studio 99 is located at 117 West Green Street. You can reach Victor Granados at (626) 449-7272, or click on www.studio99ca.com.