New Bankers Hill salon uses unorthodox inspiration for individualized, personal service

Por Dave Fidlin | Reportero SDUN

Add a pinch of London’s hip, local watering holes and a dash of the sophisticated stylings of New York City, and you get Fox & Jane, an unorthodox hair salon and “finishing bar” that recently opened in Bankers Hill. Owners Billy Canu and Lorean Cairns said they are hoping to replicate the success of their first salon, which they opened last year in Manhattan’s trendy Lower East Side.

Canu, a San Diego native, said he decided to return to his old stomping grounds with expansion plans in mind. The Bankers Hill location, at 2802 Fifth Ave., opened March 26.

“I have a lot of roots in San Diego and had been thinking about opening a shop here for some time,” Canu said. “It seemed like a natural fit for us. As we looked around [for a location], everything just fell into place.”

While the ambience is chic at Fox & Jane, Canu and Cairns said they also strive to remove any inklings of pretentiousness within their salon. Conversation is as much a part of the equation in their business model as are a quality cut and color.

Gaining their inspiration from a slightly different model, the owners said the overall theme of Fox & Jane comes from the chic English pubs that offer high-quality beverages and a healthy dose of good conversation.

“I’ve seen the full gamut, and the whole idea of customer service seems to have been lost,” Cairns said of her experience in salons. “Most salons just aren’t community-based, and that makes clients feel less comfortable. This is a customer-focused business, and we want people to feel comfortable.”

With more than a decade in the salon industry, Cairns is a veteran who has worked in a number of different establishments and served a variety of clientele before partnering with Canu to form Fox & Jane.

Though on the opposite coast, Canu said Bankers Hill is similar to their location in New York City. “It’s such a great place,” Canu said of the San Diego neighborhood. “There’s so much history, and there’s a strong arts scene being created. This has really turned out to be the perfect place.”

Since opening the doors, Canu and Cairns said there has been a strong reception from the community, with a number of repeat clients already booking appointments. With space for only three stylist chairs in the salon, Canu and Cairns said the design of Fox & Jane offers a quaint, boutique approach to doing business, where stylists take the time to get to know their regular clients.

“We’ve been fully booked as the word’s gotten out. It’s been an amazing experience here so far,” Canu said. The salon is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, closing at 7 p.m. on Saturdays.

“People have been looking for the type of experience we offer,” he said. “You can see it from our appointment book.”

In an effort to lay roots in the neighborhoods they serve, Canu and Cairns said Fox & Jane is dedicated to community service. The pair has plans to get involved in a variety of local activities, including participating in art crawls and local festivals like they have in New York City.

“We’re very open to it in San Diego as well,” Canu said. “It’s a great way to connect with people in the community. There’s so much talent in this city, so we’d love to show our support.”

For more information visit foxandjanesalon.com or call 619-255-9779.