Chaotic Curls Transformed to Golden-Tipped Tresses
Curly Hair Cut & Color 
Le Salon Chinois

I am a curly-headed sloppy mess most days.  My naturally curly hair pretty much decides how it wants to act on a day to day basis, susceptible to the whims of the weather, its own cranky-frizzy mood, the moon and who knows what else.  I have little say about its behavior.  If you have curly hair – you know what I am talking about.  You also know then how important it is to have a good cut and color to keep your curls manageable and also how hard it is to find someone who actually knows how to handle your curly hair.  It’s simply not the same as other hair and shouldn’t be treated as such.  I’m still amazed at the number of professionals who don’t realize this.  

Like me, you have probably grown increasingly frustrated as your long search for a person who actually deals with your hair as a unique curly-headed individual has been in vain.  We curly-heads have both the blessing and the burden of having hair with a personality of its own – you want it treated as such and in capable hands under both the scissors and the coloring brush. 

Enter Le Salon Chinois and Theo…Hair Artist…seriously.  I’m not sure I have met such a conscientious hair expert in some time.  Theo not only knows what she is doing, but she also genuinely wants you to look amazing.  In fact…I don’t think she will let you leave unless you do.  Upon her insistence, I actually had to go back after my initial appointment so she could add the color that my hair so badly needed but that I didn’t have time to get during the first appointment – but more on that later. With over fifteen years of experience, Theo definitely provides the expertise and capable hands a curly head is looking for.  Moreover, her philosophy that curly hair is, indeed, special and deserves special consideration is paramount to her success in dealing with it.

The Chinois experience…what can I say?  You walk into this warmly lit and cozy salon with its sage walls and welcoming atmosphere and you know you will be taken care of.  The clients here are clearly regulars – returning because they have been satisfied there so many times before.  And I can vouch for my experience there.  On my visit, I sat down with Theo for our consultation where we talked about curly hair – my curly hair specifically – what the challenges were and her ideas for how to handle them – how she might cut and layer my curls into manageable tresses to be tamed into luscious locks instead of the wild and chaotic mess they always felt like to me.  She explained how the texture, weight and unique curl of the hair determined how it should be cut.  It seems that not only is curly hair different than straight hair, but that each curly-head is quite different and needs to be carefully assessed to determine the proper approach to the particular layering and cut that will work best for its unique properties.  

After our consultation I was led to the comfortable hair-washing area where Fenny, the scalp-massage goddess, gave me a luxurious wash and condition.  Theo then went to work on me, employing what we had discussed in our consultation.  She was meticulous– taking her time – assessing and reassessing as she went along.  She was confident and relaxed throughout and she put me at ease.  She clearly knew exactly what she was doing and made me confident likewise.  It was also evident that she was a perfectionist and would not be satisfied with the cut unless both of us thought the cut was as close to perfect as it could be.  I felt like a work of art and that she was deeply invested in creating something beautiful as well as functional for me.

I asked her to blow my hair straight that day as I so rarely wore it that way because it was too difficult and time-consuming for me to do myself on a regular basis.  I think she gave me about the best straight-blow out I’ve ever had and I wore it that way for several days.  After I washed it and styled it curly I was very pleased with the cut, then able to see how the layers she had carved out shaped my hair into a cascade of manageable curls.  I had already made my appointment to go back to have Theo add some color to the curls and was looking forward to an even more improved look with the highlights that she had planned.

When I went back, everything was equally welcoming and Theo was, once again, a perfectionist.  She carefully painted warm blond highlights in section-by-section – not chunky highlights, but subtly and carefully placed thin ribbons of gold all over my light brown curly-head.  My face was delicately framed by this subtle touch and it was just what I needed to dress up my dull hair for the holidays.  I was delighted.  That day, she styled my hair curly with some wonderful product, taking time with each section to coax and shape it into ringlet perfection.  I walked out with a beautiful golden-tipped head full of curly cascading tresses – looking great again, thanks to Theo curly hair expert and…Hair Artist – seriously.

Le Salon Chinois is the perfect place to have your curly-head conscientiously coiffed and pampered.  The staff there is warm and welcoming and Theo the curly hair expert and hair artist will make sure you walk out looking like a million bucks with your chaos-free hair styled into subtly colored and beautiful tumbling curls.   If you have a chance while you are there, relax with a hot cup of coffee and talk with Jasmine, the friendly manager.  Also, they have a spectacular and first-rate spa upstairs!  That will definitely be first on my list next time I visit!

Anne Catherine Hundhausen
Beauty Editor
www.spa-nyc.com 

learn more about Le Salon Chinois

Tips for a visit to Le Salon Chinois:
- If you’re happy with this, or any other salon service, tip at least 15-20%.