Hair salon goes high-tech: Offers private pods, movies and Alexa

A Hollywood hairstylist, known for USD 2,000 haircuts, has opened a cutting edge smart hair salon where technology and beauty come together. Clients are cocooned in pods with mood lighting and can buy products, change music and even watch movies all at the touch of a button.

California: 'Starring By Ted Gibson' in West Hollywood, California has turned the traditional hair salon model upside down creating a place where the trim meets tech.

It's owned by celebrity stylist Ted Gibson and his husband and business partner, colourist Jason Backe. The pair boasts a client list that includes Sandra Oh, Priyanka Chopra, Lupito Nyongo, Melissa McCarthy and Debra Messing.

Clients get their hair done in one of five semi-private pods called 'clouds'. These allow for privacy and are meant to replace the bustling busy hair salon where rows of people are lined up staring into the same mirror.

The pods are equipped with an Amazon Fire tablet, an Amazon video application and Sonos smart speakers which allow clients to shop, order products from the salon, ask Alexa to change the music and ambient lighting and watch movies.

The couple, who recently moved to LA from New York, say they didn't want to open a typical salon with 50 employees and 20 chairs. Rather they wanted a technically advanced, totally new experience with as many touch points as possible.

As well as buying products during treatments, clients and passersby can make purchases from an interactive window display using the Amazon app to scan what they want.

Customers say the feeling of being here is progressive, relaxing and just plain cool and different.

Prices vary depending on the hairdresser from USD 235 for a cut and blowdry to USD 2,000 for The Ted Gibson Experience. Colouring ranges from USD 175 to USD 450 for the first 1hr 15 minutes.

Each client is buzzed into the premises and then presented with a tray with a personalized hot towel and beverage.

Hair clippings are no longer swept up by an employee but rather the salon's mascot - a Roomba vacuum cleaner that shuffles up and down the floors cleaning quietly.

A Poloroid wall showcases photos of the clients.

Gibson and Backe say it was high time hair salons got a technical makeover and they are glad to be the ones who did it. They hope to franchise the concept as soon as possible.