Can you just imagine what it would be like to have a Special Bridal Team going “on-location” to the wedding to do hair and makeup for you and your wedding party?!?  One phone call to ArchiTexture can make that image real! 

Providing on-site wedding services is one of the many features ArchiTexture owner, Erika Harding established when she opened her salon. Early in life, Erika knew she wanted to be affiliated with the hair and makeup industry, and to have her own business, but she also wanted careers associated with architecture and opera singing. 

To date, she’s fulfilled two of those dreams. After graduating from beauty school in 1988, she worked in several salons. “I have always loved doing wedding and special occasion hair and makeup,” she says. In 1995, she became a specialist in bridal hair and makeup while working for an Orange County-based salon located in Ventura. In March of 2006, she opened ArchiTexture, a full service salon and spa.

Ironically, opening ArchiTexture fulfilled her love for the architectural arts. The studio space she designed is a turn-of-the-century brick building located in Ventura’s downtown cultural district, an architect’s dream, in which she incorporated architectural renderings by her idol, Frank Lloyd Write.

Vintage Glamour

Featured Spas of 2006

The Beauty Team

Dusk Til Dawn 

Lindsay and Matt

Having visited ArchiTexture many times, the YWD staff can testify, first-hand what a delightful combination Erika’s two passions bring to the client. While enjoying ArchiTexture’s services (hair cutting, coloring, perms, straightening, and extension); skin care (facials, waxing, peels, permanent make-up, therapeutic dry needling); massage, and nail services, you’ll also enjoy the creativity of the space. In addition to the uniqueness in design, ArchiTexture is also an art gallery, host to openings for many local artists and Ventura’s famous bi-annual Art Walk.

Along with these many services, Erika and her competent staff have styled for independent films, fashion shows, and photo shoots, including those, we are proud to report, for many issues of YWD!  Other noteworthy accomplishments of Erika’s include being selected as hair stylist at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, a division of L.A.’s prestigious fashion week and being voted by Ventura County Star as Best Hair Colorist and Stylist four years in-a-row, 2004 through 2007 as well as Best Salon 2007.

Although much of Erika’s business is in Ventura/Santa Barbara County, L.A., and Hollywood, she will travel anywhere for a bride and groom. “Absolutely!” she says,“We are happy to go anywhere in the world. One thing that makes us different is that we go on location.”

Erika adds that what she loves the most is that no two people are the same and that each person she works with, allows her and her team the opportunity to fulfill their artistic expression, “I love that we make people feel comfortable by really listening to their needs. I love making people happy and I love that I have a team of specialist who have that same goal.”

One of her goals is not neglecting the men. Every Thursday at ArchiTexture is “Guy’s Day,” where, as Erika puts it, “The guys get a haircut and a ‘cold one’ for twenty bucks, and they get to be “Hef” for a day.” About that third career aspiration?  No, Erika doesn’t sing opera! But she has sung with a number of groups, including “Lily Water,” the all-female American Country group she formed.

By Susan Hart Hellman, Executive Editor