In the mid 1970’s, two hairdressers from Dallas began a revolution toward independence which would change the landscape of the beauty industry. By lobbying their state regulatory agency to recognize beauty professionals as independent contractors, Alan Chess and Ric Burman created a movement which would empower and broaden the evolution of the individual professional.

A protégé named Keith Clark conceived of a salon which would allow hairdressers, estheticians and manicurists the ability to customize their environment. Through years of working in and owning salons, he aspired to create a concept salon in which beauty professionals could share creative energy without being involved in the typical conflicts which arise from sharing workspace. By offering individual artistic studios laid out in a large salon space, this industry revolution enables successful hairdressers to create the ideal environment in which to service their clients.

Working directly with Clark was 23 year old Eric Taylor. After graduating from Pepperdine University in Malibu, Taylor was schooled by the beauty industry’s most experienced and unconventional thinkers. In 2000, Taylor opened the first salon in California comprised entirely of private studios. Named by the mentors long supportive of individuality and progress, Chess & Burman Salons introduced this concept to the Studio City community and has received rave reviews from beauty professionals and clients ever since.

Taylor opened his second salon in 2004 on the border of Century City and Beverly Hills. The largest and most expensive studio concept salon yet, it has attracted some of the Westside’s most accomplished beauty professionals and exclusive clients.

In a 2004 interview, Taylor spoke of the introduction of a new concept to an age old business:

“…This is a very progressive city so I wasn't surprised when established beauty professionals accepted us. It’s a progressive concept in a business which hasn’t seen anything truly new and revolutionary in a long time, at least in the way of operations and salon function. We basically allow the individual hairstylist unprecedented control over the environment in which he or she works. We take everything that’s good about a normal salon and magnify it, then take everything negative about a normal salon and throw it away…”