JVN POP-UP SALON | SXSW 2022

The Fab Five have taken over my hometown of Austin, Texas once before with season 6 of Netflix’s Emmy award-winning show Queer Eye— and guess what? I never got the chance to meet Jonathan Van Ness.

So when we heard about a JVN pop-up salon as part of SXSW, we hauled ass over! Inspired by the Getting Curious’ star’s new products, JVN Hair, salon owners Janet St. Paul and Natasha McMillen partnered with SXSW to create an inclusive space for attendees to enjoy some much needed pampering.

Partners in Business & Life: Natasha McMillen (left) & Janet St Paul (right)

Salon owner Janet St. Paul told Unleashed LGBTQ:

“What I love about this event is.. if you look around, in every chair, you’ll see a different age, gender, race. This makes us very proud.”

She also notes her excitement in partnering with JVN Hair:

“As a business owner, stylist, and member of the LGBTQ community, I’m so grateful for this opportunity… Not to mention I’m a huge fan of JVN!”

Gary Riggs, Wesley Smoot, & Natasha McMillen

Natasha McMillen mentions seeing five small children who traveled hours with their parents, waiting most of the day to get their hair styled and a glimpse of their hero, Jonathan Van Ness. “They came in with fashionable star-shaped yellow glasses feeling pumped to meet JVN. The way Jonathan resonates with such a broad audience is a testament to his work; there’s an energy that is just as infectious and genuine in-person, as it is on screen.”

The theme for this pop-up was called Come As You Are, which Gary Riggs described as: “Very fitting.”

Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness & Unleashed LGBTQ creator Wesley Smoot SXSW 2022

When asked what the JVN pop-up experience at SXSW was like, Jonathan Van Ness told Unleashed:

“It’s been fabulous, I love being in a salon. I’m working alongside so many talented stylists and getting really positive feedback about our new products. The experience is kind of surreal, we put a lot of care in developing JVN Hair. We launched in August 2021, so it’s amazing to see it all in this capacity. There’s so much more to come.”

Jonathan Van Ness tells readers, products are now available at: jvnhair.com, Sephora, and of course Janet St Paul Salon.