Salon On Point

Remember kiddos, this isn’t a review for the Salon, just their Grand Opening night. You can’t review a salon without actually paying for services. Wow, I sound like the T.o.S. I’ll move on.
Last night, the red carpet was rolled-​out, the bright lights were shinning on the palm trees and the photo-​backdrop was put up to make Salon On Point an all-​star event. As you came in, you were blinded by the amount of AZ beauty queens in full gowns, make-​up and tiaras. These were all queens crowned at fairs (think Watermelon Festival, Ostrich festival, etc). Some teen, some young-​adult and some… well, i’ll stop there.
Although the entrance was crowded, the patio had a huuuge open area with 2 small bars serving beer/​wine/​soda, a DJ in full blast and little tables to stand by and huddle. Since it was hot as balls, the inside area also had a built-​in bar with small tables and warm/​dark lighting. The actual «salon» area was further to the back, where the washing and cutting stations were located.
The servers passed some Captain Crunch rolls from Pearl Sushi and other treats like meatballs, bruschetta and little canapes. The food was rather tasty and the drinks were plentiful (but I had to drive so only one for me:(). At a half-​way point and after making the ‘queens’ pose for hours, they had a small speech, a ribbon-​cutting ceremony and the performance by a 12 year old and her guitar that could give any solo artist a run for her money.
If the beauty queens weren’t shinning enough, most of the female attendees also looked like they were going to a retirement-​prom: long gowns or cocktail dresses, giant diamond-​like pins, chokers and just enormous necklaces like an African tribe villager who had just stolen a diamond mine. This was definitely an event to see and be seen, and I obviously did not get that memo. My favorite was the older lady that came wearing nothing by a bow-​tie around her boobies and a long skirt. Oh fashion, you’re scary.
So despite getting wined and dined, surrounded by cameras and flashing lights and standing on red carpet for most of my evening, why am I giving it 3 stars? Well, you see, Salon on Point is in an area of Old town where everything within a square mile is either an art gallery or a hair salon. Competition is geographically fierce and a new salon has (statistically speaking) less loyalty than more established locations… unless you are Supercuts. The grand opening had all the owners and stylist there, but they weren’t selling their Salon, they weren’t featuring their skills, they weren’t making sure I came back, booked an appointment and spent shit ton of dollars on my looks. No one touched my hair, told me the marvelous things they could do with it (I swear I have pretty hair) or hooked me to return. For me, that’s the most important thing at a Grand Opening at ANY place: its the «hook». That’s why I attend them and that’s what I expect back. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some sushi, but I also want to see businesses on their A-​game, and I didn’t see that. I did see, however, a glimpse into the menopausal Scottsdale life and I shivered. I shivered a lot.