"Oh, I get my hair cut at a salon out of state." Yes, this is now what I say. Glamorous? Perhaps, until people found out that 'out of state' referred to Sanford, Maine. But let me tell you, I have had a long and tumultuous relationship with salons.
I've tried different places all up and down the east coast, with different people and different techniques. I've had great hair styles that I've ruined by accidentally burning out chunks when I've been camping, and I've had terrible hair styles where my hair looked like the lovechild of Rod Stewart and David Bowie in Labyrinth.
My sister (Jenn G. below) has been going to this salon for years. I had been almost a year without a haircut (responsible, I know), and she convinced me to go to Washington Square Salon. Bonny was very nice, and not at all what I expected. She took one look at me and quickly realized (as many do) that I do not pay much attention to my hair. It's there, I like it to look nice, but I don't really style it, and if it gets involved in acts of God (fire, hard water, twigs, etc) or other unfortunate scenarios, then I don't particularly notice or care.
Now, this is nothing new. The cycle is vicious - I eventually go in for a haircut and have the stylist scold and advise me on what I should be doing to keep my hair healthy by listing a strict morning regimen and pushing tons of products my way, saying what types of special ionic barrel brushes I need to get.
Bonny did something I've never had a stylist do before. She was realistic. She asked me what problems I had with my hair. Mainly, split ends, no body, and veeeery tangled. Knowing that I wasn't going to spend much time working on my hair, she gave me a step-by-step regimen on how to keep these things from happening by doing a simple demonstration on hair shampooing, conditioning, and leave-in conditioner technique that just included different hand movements. She even showed me how to get a relaxed but styled look using nothing but a blow dryer and brushing my fingers through my hair.
It's been a couple weeks, and my hair no longer snarles and tangles like it used to. No more tearing chunks of my hair out in the shower even after loading my hair up with conditioner and using a wide tooth comb. At first I was skeptical, but I now consider Bonny a hair ninja. She did inform me that I would have to get my hair cut more often to remove all of the damage I've done to it, whether from wear or neglect, and I plan on going back to her regularly.
For a fair assessment, realistic care, and a bitchin style, go here and ask for Bonny. Once people start getting cuts from her, they don't stop and it's plain as to why - she's not only a talented stylist, but attentive. read more