Salon Cabana

In the 1990s, Christina DiCandilo, who owns Salon Cabana, loved dressing up with her friends and gallivanting around town to clubs like the Pink Panther, Ole Madrid, and the Casbah. Christina was always in charge of styling her friend's hair in French twists and other 90's hairdos, so it eventually occurred to her she should be paid to do it. Christina signed up at San Diego City College of Cosmetology and was trained in what she describes as the glamour side of hair, which includes period retro hair styling.

In 2001, after years of working as a hairstylist and further training at the Vidal Sassoon Academy, as well as apprenticing with local renowned stylists, Christina felt that it was time to open a salon of her own. Christina had her eye on a location in the historic area of San Diego, with lots of character. When she came upon the old craftsman cottage at the corner of El Cajon Boulevard and Mississippi Street, she knew it was the one. Looking at the neighborhood today, there is an exotic nursery next door, the Historic Lafayette Hotel across the street being restored, and several popular new restaurants in close vicinity, it is clear she was right on the mark.

A cabana is literally a bathhouse on the beach, and when Christina began to consider what type of salon to create, she decided that she wanted to create space where people can simply relax. Christina's favorite season is summer, a tropical destination is her idea of a vacation, and so Salon Cabana is a place that resembles her personal harmony. The Hawaiian Cabana was originally what she had in mind, but now that is has been almost 10 years, Christina is working on a fresh update, resembling the glamour of old Hollywood. Christina gives much of the credit to her husband who hand built almost everything in the salon including the funky, mid-century inspired wall panels, chandeliers and work stations.

Inside this divine work of art, Salon Cabana provides progressive hair cutting and hair coloring techniques along with full service skin care. With a fresh update to the salon, new services will be added to the menu including nails and make-up. In actuality it may not be a beach front property, but if you close your eyes, allow their stylists to pamper you from head to toe, with soothing sounds of cars driving down the Boulevard, an appointment at Salon Cabana may in fact resemble the sensation of a cabana on the beach.