The new Echo Park shops and restaurants that have come to symbolize the rejuvenation and gentrification of Echo Park are slowly trickling east on Sunset Boulevard. Earlier this week, the newest addition to this eastward movement opened its doors: Novak salon. After working at several beauty salons in Silver Lake and Los Feliz, Novak owner Nikki Lorenzo decided to go on her own by opening her first salon on the ground floor of a brick building near the corner of Allison Avenue and Sunset Boulevard on the northern fringe of Angeleno Heights. The salon stations at Novak, which is the maiden name of Lorenzo’s grandmother, face a long, custom-built cabinet of dark wood topped by mirrors that gives the place the ambiance of a classic bar. “I am in love with all things vintage,” said Lorenzo, who has re-used vintage signs and other salvaged items in the building where Scorpion Tires once operated. “Some of the places I was in [before} didn’t take enough pride in making the surroundings inspiring. That’s important to me.”
Prices at Novak, which is starting with two stylists but will add three more in June, start at $40 for a short hair cut to $65 for a long hair cut.
L.A. Web Awards 
Best of L.A. 
The Eastsider publishes stories and news from the northeast corner of the City of Los Angeles and neighboring East Los Angeles. Who is the Eastsider? Where does the Eastsider roam? 
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Gosh, there are already like 5 salons within a quarter of a mile ON Sunset. Competition will be stiff. Good luck!
Yawn.
The salon is stunning– Absolutely gorgeous! It’s a great and fresh new addition to the east side. And Nikki is a master with the scissors!
thank you jesus!!!! you rock! i put it up on my blog novaksalon.com xo
I’m yawning too!
Yawn. (The yawns are contagious)
People are mean. All you tired ones just keep moving on. No one wants you around anyway.
maybe you have too much time on your hands if you are reading blogs and writting “yawn” on them. just a thought . there was a lot of blood, sweat and tears put into this and it looks and feels amazing. Good luck to you! its gonna be great.
Good luck. Another spirited entrepreneur placing a useful business where there was once bodega’s and empty storefronts.
i wish no one ill will and hope your salon brings you and your clients great prosperity, however, i’m amazed by the growing number of salons on susnet, starting at virgil and extending thru echo park. within that same distance there is only one bookstore. whatever you do, please don’t bring back the faux hawk
Chrissy, was there actually blood put into this store? Eww. That’s probably not sanitary.
wow. this salon hasn’t even been open a week and the haters just can’t wait to dump their bitching and moaning all over the place. give the girl a break and let her do her thing. and if you want a book store, go open one!
I have followed Nikki around for years and years; wherever she goes, I follow. Besides being one of the kindest women I have ever met, this girl can cut hair like nobody’s business. Hard to find that combination, so I know she will do well and is an asset to any neighborhood.
P. S. I know people don’t always understand that having thick hair is big trouble to cut, it is. Nikki tamed mine, after trying everyone from West Hollywood to Beverly Hills Salons.
Briefly met the woman in the picture at the opening. Didn’t catch her name. She was very rude. She might be a great stylist but I would rather spend my money elsewhere.