I don’t have good hair. There, I said it. I know it’s a bit of a critical thing to say about myself, but it’s true.
First of all, my hair is naturally wavy. I know what you’re thinking… “Wavy hair! I’d love to have wavy hair!” But no. I’m not talking about those luxurious beach waves that look as if I just spent a day at the shore enjoying the salty air. These waves are frizzy and inconsistent. They have no pattern, regularity or meaning. They’re just there, making me look like what I imagine would be the result of a lion and a poodle having a baby. They’re a disaster.
Another unfortunate thing about my hair is that it takes a lot of work to get it to look even mediocre. If I want it to shine, I have to straighten it. If I want it to be curly, I have to curl it. And then, after I spend too much time making it look presentable, it still lies lifeless because it’s baby fine. Darn the luck!
I recently visited 417 Blow Dry Bar to see if they could do a little magic on my mop. I told all of my concerns to stylist Kalie Aldaiz, who has been with Studio 417 and now the 417 Blow Dry Bar for more than two years, and she got to work.
My experience started with a complimentary cup of hot coffee (I was there early in the morning) and perhaps the most luxurious shampoo I’ve ever experienced. Aldaiz has mastered the art of head massaging, and I couldn’t help but close my eyes and wish the process would last forever. Next, we moved to the chair, where I basically watched Aldaiz transform a round brush into a magic wand. As she was blowdrying my hair, I watched myself in the mirror in shock. My hair had volume! It was shiny! Those dreaded waves were nowhere in sight! And all from a round brush and a couple of drops of product. It was pure magic.
Next, she added a few curls with a curling iron, and she had me ready for my day in about 40 minutes. It was incredible, and something I could never do at home myself. The curls held up all day long, even after a photo shoot that involved lots of head flips (don’t ask) and a walk in 90-plus degree temperatures. I even used dry shampoo to make it presentable for the next day. If taken care of properly, blowouts can last about a week, and I’m definitely going to give it another try.
