Not everyone would be prepared to spend seven hours smashing down brick walls as part of someone else’s project, but when that person is your girlfriend and you’re helping build her first salon, love trumps everything. It didn’t hurt that the demolition man in question, Sonny Henty, was a former pro boxer. He met his significant other, Drea Jaclyn, at a Los Angeles nightspot in 2014. “That meeting was so random, especially as neither of us drinks!” laughs Jaclyn. Originally from San Diego, Jaclyn trained at Paul Mitchell The School in her hometown, then cut her teeth with Ken Pavés—first as his assistant, then as a stylist—in West Hollywood, CA. Later, while renting a station at a friend’s salon, she began dreaming of opening her own business, but it wasn’t until meeting Henty that she realized it might actually be possible.
Renovating the 3,600-square- foot space, which was located in a designated historical Beverly Hills landmark, took three months; the couple hired a contractor, while Henty took over the business side of the operation and Jaclyn became the construction manager to cut costs. In April of 2017, Bomane (“bo” is a play on the French word beau, which means “beautiful”) was ready to launch. Formerly an injury call center, the open interior is modern and inviting, punctuated by striking artwork such as a pop art piece of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and neon signs in Henty’s handwriting. However, the duo credits the welcoming vibe to more than just a makeover—during construction, they hid specific crystals inside the walls to create “the right energy.”
So was it worth all the blood, sweat and tears? “Definitely,” says Jaclyn, who specializes in extensions and styles akin to effortless Victoria’s Secret hair. “Now that the team is set up and happy, it’s so wonderful to be able to focus on hair again and have Sonny do the other stuff, like social media. We’re growing it organically. We’re here for the long haul.”
Client Perks: Valet parking; complimentary head massage with every shampoo
Celebrity Clients: Felicity Huffman, Kesha, Stacy Keibler, Meghan Trainor and Lisa Vanderpump
Snacks Served: Still or sparkling water, almond or whole milk coffee, espresso, tea, beer, wine and shandy (beer mixed with a soft drink, juice or lemonade)
Best-Selling Retail Products: Show Beauty Premiere Dry Shampoo and Davines Oi All In One Milk
Fun Fact: Kers Cove, the salon’s signature candles, are handmade by Sonny Henty
[Images: Courtesy of Sonny Henty and Drea Jaclyn]
