I will follow her to the ends of the earth.
No, really, I will - and I have.
She is creative.
She is witty.
She is charming.
She is fun.
She is honest.
She is my hair stylist. And, she is amazing at hiding my true hair color (shhhhh)
She is so fabulous that some very special people (my 2 favorite cousins) actually come "all the way over from Atlanta" to get their hair done :-)
SHE'S. THAT. GOOD.
Let me first start by saying that when I moved here 16 years ago, I did NOT have high hopes of finding a stylist and I would be making that every-six-week trip back to Atlanta to have my hair done. For gawd's sake, I was moving to Birmingham ... How on earth would I ever find a stylist as good as mine at Jamison Shaw? However, after a year and a half, it seemed that I was destined to stay in this town, and I needed to quell my frequent trips to the ATL, or I'd be soon driving a SmartCar instead of my beloved German automobile. Try as I did to fight that ... It was time. Of course, with my (ahem - snotty) "I moved HERE from ATLANTA" attitude, I wanted the BEST hair stylist this town had to offer, and while I didn't really need it so much back then, I wanted a good colorist (back then I chose to color my hair not out of necessity, as I do now). I lived in Homewood and there was a charming little salon on the corner. It looked cool and it was an Aveda Salon. I asked for a consultation with the best stylist they had. A week later I had my frist appointment with Tori Watkins-Cantavespre. And, thus starts our relationship. Over the years, Tori has moved salons a few times, but I have followed her everywhere she goes (she just can't shake me!) - And for good reason.
When I've had a need for "up-hair" - Tori at my rescue ... When I was bored with my "do", having NO idea what to do with it - Tori at my rescue ... When I wanted to lop it all off - Tori at my rescue ... When I wanted it to be long, thick and beautiful - Tori at my rescue & with complete honesty, told me "you want that, I can give you extensions - otherwise, I'm cutting it. NOW." HA! But that's what you get when you get Tori - Complete, and utterly unabashed honesty - I think a few more people could use this type of honesty in a hair colorist / stylist. Tori is, by far, the best colorist around. She's been touted as the best in the SE, even! And I agree, whole-heartedly with this assessment. She is innovative and clever, always on the lookout for new things to try on certain clients who would allow it (I would be one of those. I have never trusted my head to anyone but Tori and she has never failed me.) Tori's got clients of all ages and is able to expertly accomodate her mature clients as well as the youngest, hippest of teens, men and women alike - and she makes each one of them feel as if they are her ONLY client - special. She's a pretty darned good make up artist as well!
This review is more about my stylist than the salon she's chosen to do business in at this point. But I'll give the salon the stage for a moment. Blonde is located in a small house, on a side street off the main drag in Homewood. The proprietor, Desiree, is quite possibly the sweetest gal ever, and she has created a warm, comfortable, relaxed environment for her staff and clients. While some might find it a bit "kitschy" with its glittered walls, it's a fun place!
So, if you're looking for a new colorist and stylist 'cause your current one just isn't doing the trick, give Tori a call. I know it's a hard step to take - breaking up with your colorist / stylist is like a true divorce - you never know the backlash of that kind of action - but you will not be disappointed. I promise! read more