COVER STORY

A Cut Above

AANUKO cultivates creativity and experiences

By Bridgette M. Redman

When you bring together two masters of social media and top-notch designers of men’s hair products, anything can happen. In the case of David Alfonso from Hanz de Fuko and Joe Andrews of BluMaan, their collaboration has given birth to AANUKO, a creative barber boutique and experiential men’s hair salon in Culver City. These are two industry professionals who know much more than just hair care—and know that people need more than a haircut. They need connection, interaction and, in today’s online world, pictures to prove that it happened. Alfonso and Andrews have each founded their own haircare companies, but while they are competitors, they are also longtime collaborators. Andrews got his start as a social media influencer and Alfonso said he was one of their first brand ambassadors. “He started to grow his influence on YouTube,” Alfonso said. “He was the go-to hair guy. He started his own product line.” Together, they both realized that they could create something beyond product and that together they were stronger and more creative than apart. “We had the opportunity to fill each other’s void,” Alfonso said. “Hanz de Fuko had always wanted to have a space that was not only a barbershop, but we could use it to drive a lot of fresh, new content. On Joe’s side, he had a pretty good following and he could generate traffic through those doors. As far as both of our brands, they kind of live in two different worlds.” The Hanz de Fuko line branded itself as the products for the smart professional. It sells in Nordstrom and Sephora throughout the world. Andrews’ BluMaan brand is what Alfonso described as a casual brand that is more customer facing and a great niche product for his followers. AANUKO is a place where they want men and women to become their best selves physically, mentally and emotionally while connecting with others in the community. “I wanted to reimagine the barbershop concept by immersing it into completely unfamiliar aesthetics,” Alfonso said. “It’s like walking into a Gucci-inspired boutique in Paris or New York in the 1980s. But then it has the warmth and feel of a quirky hotel lobby that you find somewhere in Barcelona.” It’s an environment where they want to create excitement in the eyes of the clients. Each person is greeted like family from the moment they walk through the doors, setting the stage for what they hope will be a unique, feel-good experience. “The house of AANUKO is a place to play, to connect and to thrive,” Alfonso said. “It’s where the barber and client unite in creative inspiration.” So how are they different from a regular barbershop? Alfonso customer like family and create new friendships. They want their environment to be transformative for the industry. They go about that, Alfonso said, by the team that they have brought on board. “It’s about hiring good people

AANUKO is a new creative barber boutique in Culver City’s Arts District that was founded by mens grooming experts Joe Andrews and David Alfonso.

draws a contrast between the typical barbershop that might have some community feel but tends to be transaction-based and can feel like a “one size fits all” exchange. They wanted to create a more immersive experience where they treat the with raw talent,” Alfonso said. “They all have this creative fire that clients will truly feel. Clients will never be made to feel like a transaction. It is about cultivating genuine relationships and really driving home that confidence that

builds results for the client. There’s a talent in creating that rapport and making the client feel at home and really listening to them. It is just having it be in an environment that is unique and different.” Clients will be able to consult with experts on what style works best for them, learn a lot about their hair and go home with a lot of product knowledge. But it doesn’t end there. Clients can enjoy a free cocktail at a Barcelona-style café. They can also visit the photo studio and take photos home with them. “In today’s day and age, people like to have photos that they can spread on their respective social media channels and that’s what we do for the client,” Alfonso said. “Not only are you going to get this amazing haircut, you’re going to get professionally done photos. The photos are amazing. People are going to love to share their photos.” They’re designing it as a place where people can hang out. Ultimately, their goal is to make sure their clients have the knowledge to feel more confident about how they style their hair and take care of their hair. They’ll even be giving out some free products. They’re dedicated to making sure the boutique experience is a memorable one. “It’s all about the little nuances, whether it’s the eucalyptus oil and a warm towel that we put over your face, or the consultation and the photo booth,” Alfonso said. “Being able to put all of these things together in this space will really delight clients. They’ll feel immersed in this really cool thing.” The name is a combination of both founders’ company names. AAN are the last three letters of BluMaan and UKO are the last three letters of Hanz de Fuko. It is just one of the many ways that they are combining their creativity to create a new experience for people passionate about hair.

AANUKO

5790 Washington Boulevard, Culver City 310-359-6602 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., (Tues - Sat) aanuko.com The founders want the barbershop to be a place where men and women can become their best selves physically, mentally and emotionally, while connecting with others in the community.