The North American Hairstyling Awards, NAHA, produced by the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) will celebrate 25 years in 2014 as the beauty industry’s leading honor. Bangstyle had the pleasure of getting to know the amazingly talented Todd White, of Platinum Entourage, one of this year's nominees in the "Salon Design" category. Check out our exclusive interview with Todd to learn a bit more about his salon and what sets them apart in the industry.

Where/what inspired the design of your salon?
I’ve always been attracted to artsy, vintage and whimsical things that exude warmth and character, which I find very attractive.

Years ago, when I opened my first salon, I was honestly too afraid to take “chances”. I knew exactly what I wanted my space to look like from the start but I was afraid new guests wouldn’t get it, or that they wouldn’t take us seriously if we didn’t look like every other high end salon.

I kept the design very typical, mainly white on white, clean lines, modern furniture with chrome accents and sparkly chandlers... you know the look. But it never felt like me. I felt like I was just “dressing up” and wearing what I thought I needed to wear. If you catch my drift.

After gaining a reputation, the work we produced gained notoriety and we got a few awards under our belt, I became more confident with my eccentric decor taste. I was ready to expand and transform our space and show our following what was hidden inside me all along.

My buddy, John Best, a designer here in Las Vegas, helped me capture the eclectic downtown mansion vibe I wanted for my new space. I also had the help of lots of artsy friends and team members. We now have quite a large space, almost 8,000.00 sq. feet. It was important to me that even with the high exposed ceilings and the industrial build out, our guests didn’t feel as if they were walking into a sterile space. We focused on creating lots of nooks and crannies, lamps, comfy couches, art and interesting things to keep it cozy.

A lot of people raised a brow at the description of what I was planning for this space, not only has it been well received but we’ve been dubbed a tourist destination off the Las Vegas strip and are now a nominee for this years NAHA Salon Design of the Year. I’m so honored. John and I can’t stop smirking. What a great way to reinforce the motto "Just be who you are." Don’t be afraid.

How does the design influence the mood of the salon?
Like I said, our salon feels more like a whimsical mansion rather than a place of “business” which immediately allows our guests to feel at home. It exudes luxury while showing our sense of humor. We surround ourselves with a pallet that evokes curiosity and inspires creativity. Our guests sense that.

What kind of client experience do you strive to create?
Over the top customer service, and quality artistry are the foundations of a great customer experience. We obsess over every single detail, I don’t care how amazing your décor is, you must focus on the work at hand. We are extremely dedicated and will not let anyone leave if the look isn’t perfection. We deliver high-end quality without the “rock-star ego” that usually accompanies it. That’s the experience I want for my guests.

What trend do you wish would come back in style? Is there one you wish would go away forever?
Well for a comeback, honestly (whisper) I love Big ol’ 1980s “video vixen” hair. Not the frizzy, permed, side pony kind, I’m talking the piecey, long and wavy, heavily layered rocker girl. Not for everybody, but I can’t help but love all that wild huge hair.

Go away - Dip dyed ombre. I’ve seen some really frightening versions. The level 2 mid-shaft with the level 12 fried ends gives me heart palpitations. I’m all about a rooty “lived in” color, it’s a signature look we are known for actually, but these harsh bleached out ends are dated, already. I promise you a few years from now most will snicker at the idea. It's the equivalent of the overdone cut  ‘the Rachel” from the 1990s. Just too “done” it becomes a stamp.

What’s the funniest thing that’s happened inside the salon?
A while back, on a busy weekend, I noticed 2 women stumble in and make their way to my front desk. They stood out to me because they looked as if they may have been a cabaret act of some sort (this is Vegas after all). Possibly even a drunk cabaret act as they appeared to be hysterically crying and laughing at the same time. I approached them at the desk, introduced myself and tried my best to maintain a neutral facial expression. They quickly explained to me that they flew in from out of town and had a large gala to attend within the next few hours. They went to another salon and asked for “dressy up-styles”  for the event but instead ended up with this (she points to the disastrous hair). I remained professional, again monitoring my facial expression. One gal described her friend's look as “Princess Leia if she joined the circus” while “Princess Leia” described her friend as “Patrick Swayze in Too Wong Foo”. I quickly realized we had the same sense of humor yet still controlled my reaction. The “stylist” who styled her hair even had the audacity to place a miniature sized red bow in her fringe. At that point my mouth dropped open. I was frozen in disbelief.  The girls began hysterically laughing and crying again….so I finally felt comfortable doing the same, right along with them. I had to let it out…I lost it. I laughed so hard I got the cough, choke, cant breath going. As the ruckus elevated, my other artists began to swarm around. Once they saw these poor victims had a sense of humor about the disaster, they too let loose and joined in on the hysterics.  We quickly whisked the girls away, returned them to their proper gender, as well the proper DECADE. In the end, we saved the day. The girls looked stunning and laughed and cried again. I comped their services and explained I felt it was my duty to protect the integrity of the beauty industry as a whole. After all, retelling that story is priceless.

Are you on Social Media? What kind of people/brands do you follow?
Yes, we are. We have a great following on both Instagram and Facebook. It’s an excellent way of direct marketing. I mainly post before and after/ behind the scenes pictures. Our guests respond to getting a sneak peek into our creative factory. We follow our guests, fellow artists, beauty brands, fashion industry folks and educators of course.

On that note, there are many legends I wish were still around so I could peek into THEIR factories. Warhol, Vidal Sassoon, Picasso, Einstein…the list goes on. Again, I’m in love with historic people and things. Masters inspire me.

What is your favorite aspect of being in the industry?
There’s so many benefits, of course. The simple fact that I get to create from scratch, recreate and elevate on a daily basis is pretty awesome. I guess the thing that stands out to me most is seeing that “look” a guest gives themselves in the mirror when they love what my team or I did. The fact that I can transform someone’s own perception of themselves is very empowering.

What’s on the salon’s playlist?
Its quit the mish mosh actually. Anything but top 40 radio, rap or country. Otherwise, a mix of every decade and genre depending on my mood. Most days, I lean toward interesting loungy/ indie music. Its sets the perfect tone for focused creativity.

What non-hair related areas do you constantly find yourself being inspired by?
I can find inspiration in anything. A bowl of tomato soup once inspired me to formulate a new shade of red for a client. I’m serious. I think a born artist can’t ever turn it off. You see it everywhere and in everything.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Well, in hair terms, (again whisper) super pale bleached out blonde. It’s just awful on the hair and goes against everything I preach. BUT in my defense, to clarify, I don’t like it on just anyone. She’s got to have the right skin tone, face shape, sense of style, and most importantly a short textured crop. The “I don’t care” cut completes the look. It’s so angelic and rebel-esque when done correctly. Guilty!

As for just plain old life? Childlike CANDY. Sour patch kids, Gummy Bears and watermelon gum. I’m a kid trapped in an adult business man’s body.

I’ve diagnosed myself with “Peter Pan” syndrome, as I’m sure you can tell by this interview. Hence, why I created a Neverland of sorts.