After years of searching, I have found my holy grail of highlighting at Perez Salon. After a particularly disastrous coloring experience at a Virginia salon, I sought out a friend whose hair I've always admired and she gave me the name of her "place out in Rockville" and told me to ask for Rick.
My first visit was well worth the journey to the near-end of the Red Line: Rick was my kind of guy; I enjoyed his sense of humor and--most importantly--his blatant honesty. If you want a stylist who will coddle you and do exactly what you ask (for the 72nd time), I'm not sure that Rick's the one for you. If you want someone who will query you for several minutes to get an accurate picture of you and your lifestyle before even touching the shears or sending you to the shampoo bowl, Rick is a great fit. Rick goes well beyond the obligatory "How much time do you spend on your hair?" We're talking, what colors do you wear to work? How do you dress in your free time? Do you have any gray hair? If so, does that bother you? After a thorough dialogue, Rick gave me his 100% honest opinion (which I sincerely appreciated), followed by a fairly-drastic-but-necessary cut that I loved. Additionally, my highlights were beautiful and I received compliments for months. NOTE: I do not deliver these comments with the mindset of "I am the fairest in all the land," I'm just alluding to the times that friends, colleagues, and the occasional stranger make it a point to say nice things about the hair, brows, etc.
For my return trip to Perez, I was paired up with Courtney who had assisted Rick with my last set of highlights. Courtney is a coloring genius. I have now seen her for about a year and every visit results in beautiful, vibrant highlights that not only last, but grow out nicely. I've gotten natural-looking blonde highlights and fall-appropriate low-lights with a gorgeous coppery shimmer. Courtney always has wonderful suggestions and I leave feeling satisfied and uplifted with my refreshed look. Now THAT is how a trip to the salon should make you feel! Granted, I'd like to be one of those responsible "every 8 weeks" clients, but my crazy schedule rarely allows. Still, Courtney works with me and always sends me on my way with a new lease on life.
Glorious Colorist Courtney does not cut hair, so if I need time with the scissors, Rick is my guy. As a master stylist, Rick's cuts are on the pricier side, but he is a perfect example of "You get what you pay for." Additionally, I gave the Keratin treatment a whirl; while my naturally wavy hair didn't "take" the first time (there's always a head of hair that's the exception to the rule--lucky me!), I called Rick with my concerns and he was kind, understanding, and invited me back to the salon for a second round. This time, my hair turned out well and I enjoyed my sleek low-maintenance texture for several months.
Ladies, if you're going to make the investment in your hair, Perez is the place to go for great color. For my fellow DC-dwellers, sure, it's a bit of a hike out there, but it's well worth your time to grab a newspaper, hit the Metro (let someone else drive versus battling the Rockville Pike traffic), and then walk the 2 blocks to the salon. I cannot say enough great things about Rick, Courtney, and the rest of the staff (I have shared many enjoyable conversations with Chris--who always has the latest, hippest look that I would totally steal if I was a dude). Hopefully, this helps folks who are either in a "hair rut" or paying way too much for "just okay" looks. Get thee to Perez! read more