Last month, veteran DC stylist, Yvette Thompkins, set up shop in a swanky new hair salon in the new Arts District located in Hyattsville, Maryland. The new Arts District includes several small businesses, a gym (the old Lustine’s car dealership), live-work homes and more. We visited the new salon, 56 Twelve Hair Gallery, to take a tour and speak with her about her style, her favorite products, hand-crafted soap, art, health and more.
Who is Yvette Thompkins? Yvette is a native Washingtonian who began her career as a professional hair stylist in some DC’s best hair salons. Her hair clients include men, women and children of all ethnicities. She expressed that she is really in to helping her clients maintain healthy hair. Over the years, she has expanded her styling interests to include art, home interior design and healthy eating and culinary. In expanding her career as a stylist, Yvette created Art Is. I asked what Art Is is all about she replied that “art is hair and beauty, home interior design and healthy eating and culinary. She finished with “Art is everything!”
As mentioned above, 56Twelve Hair Gallery, sits in the new EYA development. The address is 5612 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville Maryland 20781. It is conveniently located near the West Hyattsville, College Park and Prince Georges Metro Stations. 56Twelve has an art inspired decorum and the atmosphere is very inviting. While looking around the salon, I saw that there were more than just hair products for sale. The salon also carries items for the body and beautiful art work. While the salon has many kinds of products to accommodate clients with all hair types, Yvette expressed that she really likes Jane Carter and Carol’s Daughter.
At the end of our chat, I had an opportunity to take a couple of photos of the salon. They are posted. I also had an opportunity to ask Yvette one more question, which was what information she wanted people to know most about her business and new location? She said she wanted people to know that “56Twelve is a salon where everyone is welcome,” and that she is a firm believer in the three Ps: “being pleasant, polite and professional.”
Salon 56Twelve in Hyattsville, MD
