Finding a New Hair Salon, otherwise known as THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK OF RELOCATION
Anyone who is slightly fanatical about his or her hair completely understands the importance of finding the right hairdresser. For the past few years I had been going to Mario's Salon in Davis Square to see the master of long hair, Umberto. Umberto understands that "I really need a haircut", means "Hey buster, if you cut anymore than a quarter inch off, I'll sue your ass." Not only is he a great stylist, but he's really funny too and knows all of the Somerville gossip. And, he's pretty cheap - I think a haircut and tip is under $40.
As a diversion from unpacking 237 boxes, I spent a few days scouring the Princeton yellow pages, wandering the streets, and looking in the windows of various hair salons before making my big decision. After viewing some websites, I finally decided on B and B Color Studio because I really needed my hair colored (OK, I really wanted my hair colored). I was lured in by their website and the fact that the salon, whoops, color studio had been featured on A Makeover Story. When I called to make the appointment, the friendly woman with a British accent was very helpful and calming. She gave me excellent directions and assured me that Tim, the owner, would do a fantastic job.
So, on Wednesday, I went for what I thought would be your basic one process semi-permanent coloring and a teeny tiny trim. 3 and 1/2 hours later I walked out with permanently "Chestnut" colored hair that was at least an inch shorter (which of course feels like 10 inches when you are a little obsessed with your 'do.).
Tim is the owner and apparently the only person who works there on Wednesdays. He had four clients going at once and left the color on my head a bit too long, so that after I had been washed and dried, he had to put a toner on it to make my hair look like a color that you actually can find in nature. Then I had to be washed and styled again. Oh, in between he also put a "protein pack" on my hair.
Tim was very nice and the other women getting their hair done were very friendly (one just had her first baby a week ago and she is 48!). I wasn't worried at all until I saw the "finished product" of two other women. Not that their hair was awful, it just isn't really my taste to have my hair look like 1985. Yikes... but when you're strapped into a chair with a huge plastic smock around your neck, you feel sort of vulnerable. So, of course I agreed when he asked if I wanted a cut. I made him swear that he would only cut off a 1/4 an inch.
Then, it was time for the blow dry. The thing about blow drying is that it can go either way. I mean it can either be a gal's best friend, making your potentially big hair smooth, shiny, and small. Or, it can be your worst nightmare, making your big hair quite enormous. Let's just say, I had to walk through the door sideways as I left. But, I was much lighter as I left because all this beauty cost about the same as a year's tuition at a small liberal arts school.
So, the moral of this story is - don't trust websites and friendly British women when it comes to finding a good stylist. For the next few months I will on the lookout for women with great hair and begging them for the name of their stylist.
My new dear friend Greta, an 85 year old retired professor and subject of the excellent documentary Watermarks, just got her hair done at Salon Vis a Vis and it looked lovely. So, maybe I'll try there next time.
As a diversion from unpacking 237 boxes, I spent a few days scouring the Princeton yellow pages, wandering the streets, and looking in the windows of various hair salons before making my big decision. After viewing some websites, I finally decided on B and B Color Studio because I really needed my hair colored (OK, I really wanted my hair colored). I was lured in by their website and the fact that the salon, whoops, color studio had been featured on A Makeover Story. When I called to make the appointment, the friendly woman with a British accent was very helpful and calming. She gave me excellent directions and assured me that Tim, the owner, would do a fantastic job.
So, on Wednesday, I went for what I thought would be your basic one process semi-permanent coloring and a teeny tiny trim. 3 and 1/2 hours later I walked out with permanently "Chestnut" colored hair that was at least an inch shorter (which of course feels like 10 inches when you are a little obsessed with your 'do.).
Tim is the owner and apparently the only person who works there on Wednesdays. He had four clients going at once and left the color on my head a bit too long, so that after I had been washed and dried, he had to put a toner on it to make my hair look like a color that you actually can find in nature. Then I had to be washed and styled again. Oh, in between he also put a "protein pack" on my hair.
Tim was very nice and the other women getting their hair done were very friendly (one just had her first baby a week ago and she is 48!). I wasn't worried at all until I saw the "finished product" of two other women. Not that their hair was awful, it just isn't really my taste to have my hair look like 1985. Yikes... but when you're strapped into a chair with a huge plastic smock around your neck, you feel sort of vulnerable. So, of course I agreed when he asked if I wanted a cut. I made him swear that he would only cut off a 1/4 an inch.
Then, it was time for the blow dry. The thing about blow drying is that it can go either way. I mean it can either be a gal's best friend, making your potentially big hair smooth, shiny, and small. Or, it can be your worst nightmare, making your big hair quite enormous. Let's just say, I had to walk through the door sideways as I left. But, I was much lighter as I left because all this beauty cost about the same as a year's tuition at a small liberal arts school.
So, the moral of this story is - don't trust websites and friendly British women when it comes to finding a good stylist. For the next few months I will on the lookout for women with great hair and begging them for the name of their stylist.
My new dear friend Greta, an 85 year old retired professor and subject of the excellent documentary Watermarks, just got her hair done at Salon Vis a Vis and it looked lovely. So, maybe I'll try there next time.
posted by Susan P. at 5:30 PM
1 Comments:
Oh, I 'hair' you on that one. In my very less-than-cosmopolitan new homestead Upstate, I had to find a newly-shorn tress of someone else's before I could even think to inquire about the local salon scene (I'm not sure we have a "studio" in town). I'm certain you look as lovely as always, Susan--and how chic--tis the season for Chesnut!
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