Crescent Lomonaco at her studio in Summerland, CA. (March 3, 2016)
Paul Wellman

Crescent Kirby LoMonaco doesn’t mince words. She’s one of the most direct people I’ve ever met. If you’re looking good, she celebrates it. If you’re not, she tells you — and knows how to fix it.

For many years, Crescent owned a hair salon in Carpinteria. She recently opened the Summerland Shack, a quaint, casual hair salon that fits perfectly with the vibe of that beautiful coastal town where she lives.

That’s where I first met her in 2001, soon after I co-founded a coffee shop in Summerland. Crescent and her husband, Mike, were instrumental in helping us with the business, for they live right behind the cafe. When I became head of the film festival, Crescent understood how shy I was, so she suggested spiking my hair and dying it to help build my self-esteem. For a while, she also wrote an advice column for this newspaper called “Ask the Stylist.”

This hair guru puts down the shears to answer the Proust Questionnaire.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Easy. My lack of subtlety. It always has been.

Who do you most admire?

Anyone over the age of 60 that hasn’t become bitter and negative. Life is a state of mind at any age.


What do you like most about your job?

The people and the creativity! I love working one on one with clients and developing a rapport with them so they trust me enough to use my skills and creativity to help them design their sense of style. When the clients feel great about themselves, I have achieved my goal.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

A long stretch of time with no events on the calendar.

What is your greatest fear?

Currently, house centipedes! They are giant, fast, and super creepy!

What is your greatest extravagance?

Writing. I don’t have much time for it, but when I do, I love being totally immersed.

What is your current state of mind?

Enjoy RIGHT NOW!

What is the quality you most like in people?

Positivity and fun. Life is too short to be boring.

What is the quality you most dislike in people?

Negativity.

What do you most value in friends?

The ability to have real conversations without judgement.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Sh–! It just comes out, no matter how hard I try not to say it.

Which talent would you most like to have?

I want to sing like Adele and play the guitar like Eddie Van Halen.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

My height. I can’t reach the top shelf at the market.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Staying with my husband for 24 years and now raising our young son together. In this day and age, staying in a relationship for 24 years seems like it’s tough to achieve.

Where would you most like to live?

I’d split my time between Paris, Maui, and Santa Barbara. The best of everything.

What is your most treasured possession?

Can I say my son? Okay, he’s not a possession, so I guess I’d say my memories. No one can take those away and they’ve made me who I am.

What makes you laugh the most?

Videos of people falling. I have no idea why, but it cracks me up.

What is your motto?

“Get over it!” Whatever your “it” is, get over it. Really. You’re only hurting yourself. Plus, I’m tired of listening to it.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Wonder Woman. Some days I feel like I can do it all and other days I just want to hide behind my giant glasses.


On what occasion do you lie?

No one really knows what my natural hair color is.

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