I wanted to love this salon. I wanted it to be my American touchstone in Madrid: a neighborhood…read moreplace where I could come for familiar products (and smells!) while simultaneously receiving fashionable madrileña cuts. And it very nearly was this - except for the whole great-haircut part.
The large space is sleek and modern, constructed with frosted glass paneling, stone walls, and wooden floors. The effect is zen and relaxing. The street level lobby/shop is stocked with beauty and hair care products as well as several comfortable chairs for waiting. The downstairs salon is quiet and simply laid-out: a central row of mirrors runs down a long rectangular room with a neat color-station built into the wall.
As with any Aveda salon, the experience is aromatherapeutic. To start, my stylist offered me a choice of two essential oils for a (very wonderful) head and neck massage. He then led me to a dark room sparsely decorated with a line of sinks and shampoos (more wonderful massage). At this point I was inventing reasons why I should be returning on a regular basis.
Though the salon did accommodate my request for an English-language stylist, my long layered cut was less than I'd hoped. In fact, I can only describe the effect as looking as though I need a haircut. It is not well-blended - a fact especially apparent in my overly-short, bluntly-cut bangs.
If I return, I will likely request another stylist despite the language barrier.
Haircuts start from 65€.
****3.5 stars****
