So I was recently in San Francisco for a convention where my company was exhibiting and made an appointment at an expensive, hipster-central SOMA salon for a quick blowout and style. I'm in a bit of a hurry, but the stylist is just standing there inspecting my roots.
"Who does your hair?" she asks, in a tone of wonder, like maybe she had to move to a better salon pronto.
So I sit back and tell her about my girl Amy. I mentioned that Amy used to be in my neighborhood and opened her own sweet salon that was, sadly, further away from me. I was told in no uncertain terms to suck it up.
"Don't ever stop going to her," said this SOMA stylist who's presumably seen it all. "She completely knows what she's doing."
And that's the truth. Amy knows her color, she knows her cuts - she truly is a professional. I go to her because she's the best.
But there's more - Amy has this calm, unflappable demeanor that is so refreshing, but she's not afraid to tell it like it is. She's a grownup. There are great salons in my neighborhood - awesome ones. But I keep going back to Amy because when I'm going through a phase of "I've totally got to go red to fix my life", she'll tell me all the cons of red hair - bitch to maintain, fades easily, only works with certain complexions. Or when I'm thinking "I hate my long hair and I've got to chop three inches off", she'll just raise up her eyebrows and say 'Are you sure?" with deep concern. Make no mistake, if I want it Amy will do it, it's just that she's got my best interests at heart. She doesn't pull any punches.
Amy is cool too - she goes to Crossfit and is buff as all get out, she's an entrepreneur running her own gig, and she's doing the whole juggling of kids, hubby and career thing with aplomb. I also love how when I feel like moaning about my latest dating or business mishap we can talk forever, but when work or other stuff is preoccupying me she just does her skilled thing on my head and lets me chill. And every time I am there she inspects my hair critically with a fresh eye, she assumes nothing. I know she has high expectations for my hair - it had better behave for her.
Someone who does the right thing for you, not necessarily the trendy thing, or the expensive thing. That's what I want in a stylist, and that's why I'm a lifer with Ms. Amy. read more