Meet Chug

Long before he decided to become a stylist, Chug Kellum was deeply interested in her fashion and the mini chemical-based services offered by professional salons. During his 25 year career, Chug has kept his eye on the evolution of hair care products and spent his professional career on ways to consistently improve them.

In the 70s, Chug began work in a bustling Manhattan Beach salon, primarily involved with chemical services. This era was known for the science behind products and challenged stylists to learn more about the science supporting the art. A few years later, Chug turned his attention to South America, where he worked in prestigious salons in Rio de Janeiro for two fast-paced years. After that, he spent a year touring the US and Canada as a guest artist for Matrix Essentials.

In 1986, Chug opened the first Chug Salon in Manhattan Beach. He also worked with Redken Laboratories as a guest artist with their national team watching the Modafini line. This stint last until 1992, when he headed to Costa Rica for a couple of years.

In 1996, Chug took a role as the Salon Manager for the Murad 365 Day Spa. There he supervised the salon’s daily operation, while designing and implementing a series of programs for scalp and hair treatments. It was here that he premiered the use of acid treatments for damaged hair. He discovered that acids served as a sealant, and from there, Chug premiered the use of alpha and beta hydroxy acids for hair treatments.

Chug Salon Hermosa Beach: pHuse

In 1997, Chug opened another salon in Hermosa Beach, California where he began formulation of the Ph I Love You products using his experience with acid treatments. He developed pHuse in 1999, which he sold to Paul Mitchell in 2003.

Chug has been a prominent figure in Hermosa Beach for 40 years. He does great hair for both men & women and is well known as a colorist. As you can tell from this colorful history, he’s created numerous hair products (including pHuse) and continues formulating new ideas today. His latest formula is Chug Juice, which he created in 2018.

Services available today:

  • Styling
  • Color Corrections
  • Highlights
  • Haircuts
  • Brazilian Blowouts
  • Balayage