J. Russell Cunningham

Artistic Director

The name says all there is to say. J. Russell.

While in high school, he zipped through his beauty school training in record time and was teaching the fine art of hair design in Bullock’s Fashion Square in Los Angeles. He opened his first salon in La Habra in 1974, and within weeks was the grand master of manes to the starlets and socialites of the City. Two years later he opened a second salon and quickly noted that his full appointment book was filled with desert phone numbers.

History was made in 1984 when he partnered with Meg and David Firestone to take over six chairs in their vastly successful Neil’s on El Paseo and flew the J. Russel! banner over the door. The combination of designer clothing and hair design led to the salon growing to 50 chairs in short order. While quickly becoming the hero of the fashionistas with weekend homes, his fame spread as the winter residents to soak up the sun and seek a J. Russell look.

And there never, ever was a J. Russell “look.” The hair is sculpted to enhance the natural beauty and the anatomy of the individual in the chair. You’ll never see your hairdo on anyone else at the Bob Hope Classic Ball, the film festival or the silver screen. To J. Russell you are a classic, you are the star, one of many on a client list that includes Suzanne Sommers, Sharon Osborne, Sharon Stone, Dianne Carroll, Steve Garvey, Jerry Brown, George Hamilton and Brad Pitt. First ladies, including Betty Ford and heads of state place their heads in J. Russell’s hands. His favorite customer is the one being sculpted, tinted or tones at the moment. Always it’s about you.

In short: if you demand only the best in art, find the man with one name – J. Russell.