Ken Paves opens a salon in Vegas

Ken Paves wants to make one thing clear. "Jessica Simpson did not give birth to me," he says from a chair in his new namesake salon at ElevenSpa.

His schedule book already resembled a VIP seating list for The Ivy before the blond pop singer came along. Oprah already had come calling. Success and Paves weren't exactly strangers, yet the idea that Simpson "made" him prevails.

"People think I sit around brushing her hair all day," he says, then mocks the notion in his best Stepford impression. "Ninety eight, Jessica, ninety nine ..."

The celebrity hairstylist is in town to judge the Miss America pageant. During the Vegas pit stop, he's giving his mother, Helen Paves, a tour of the newest salon to bear his name -- Ken Paves Salon at Eleven -- and doesn't want her to miss a thing. They've both come equipped with digital cameras and each time she turns a new corner, Helen tests how much farther her jaw can drop. It's hard to tell who has more pride, Helen for her son's accomplishments or Ken for being able to share them with her.

He's come a long way since his days when his mom nudged him from Detroit's blue-collar east side to the affluent west side in pursuit of a hair assistant position -- after already getting snubbed and coming home in tears. But, his roots are what make Ken relatable, even behind the wheel of a Bentley. He's had women as diverse as Eva Longoria, Hilary Swank, Eve, Jennifer Lopez and Paula Rubio in his chair and none has left his salon with a similar look.

"I will never stand for a type of beauty that my niece can't see herself in," says Ken, who is of Filipino, Portuguese, Armenian and Jewish descent. "We need to stop telling women what's wrong with them and instead ask them what they like about themselves and how we can enhance it."

This is the philosophy that makes him Oprah-friendly and turns tabloid targets such as Jessica Simpson from clients to BFF's. Ken also hopes it will diminish the intimidation factor that might prevent locals from patronizing his salon. Guests who can afford his prices, however, don't usually let star power intimidate them.

The salon is as swank as the spa that houses it. A manicure bar and makeup bar -- with mirrors that emerge with the push of a button -- border the salon. Both provide justification to indulge in more than a cut and style. Clients can also partake in a hand ritual that's a throwback to '40s spa treatments. As a complementary service, butlers wash clients' hands with sugar scrubs and apply moisturizing treatments in an effort to slow down the aging process of the hands.

The Ken Paves Salon at Eleven is only missing one thing: Ken Paves. You'll have to wait for time to permit him a break from his Beverly Hills salon, Michigan salon and personal appearances for his product line to book an appointment with him. Lucky for Las Vegas, he'll be taking limited appointments when the salon opens, Feb. 11.

If you manage to wiggle your way into his chair for a color, you've basically garnered permanent "I'm worth it" status. A digital color scale system ensures staff get the precise formula you left the salon with for your last visit.

Ken Paves Salon at Eleven opens Feb. 11. The salon is located in Town Square, 967-1100.