My decades-long search for the perfect hairstylist is over. Countless trips to countless salons have all landed me with one haircut -- the bob. In varying lengths and at varying prices, but a bob none-the-less. Apparently, most hairstylists don't know what to do with Asian hair except cut it into a bob. Well, there was that one time that the stylist told me she was going to give me a cut to minimize the roundness of my face, and I ended up looking about 10 years older and then going somewhere else and getting a bob.
Enter Yumi Matsushima of Spa 1107. The first time I went to her, I was 7-months pregnant and bloated. There's not a whole lot that a new haircut can do for you when you're carrying ten extra pounds in your face alone. I told her that I wasn't the type of person to spend an hour on my hair, wash and go, please. I asked her to do whatever she wanted and probably bring it up to around shoulder-length. She said no.
She told me that I didn't have to chop it all off if I wanted a new look. I could keep it long and still have an easy-to-maintain, great looking haircut. She also told me that I didn't even look pregnant, so from there I could see her tip skyrocketing.
Anyway, snip, snip, snip, and I had the most amazing haircut I have ever had. She had an opinion, she knew what to do with Asian hair, and she gave me something that met my needs. The cut I have is long and layered with long bangs that frame my face. On most days, I do just wash and go, but she also showed me how to dress it up with just a couple of twists of the curling iron. She gave me her cell phone number in case I had questions on how to do this at home.
You know how it is with most salons -- they style it for you and then you try to recreate it at home, and one hour and many furious tears later, you look a wreck and your hair is all crispy with hairspray. I had a big event at the office a few days later, and it was unbelievably easy for me to style it the same way she did when I left the salon and I didn't even have to call her. I got so many compliments -- this is what a great hairstylist does for you.
Not only is she a great hairstylist, but she answers her phone, "Hello? This is Yumiiiiiiii!!" My search for a salon / stylist is over. read more