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Review content:
At the beginning of 2011, after 27 years of moderately attractive, but largely uneventful brunetteness, I finally decided to bite the bullet and dye my hair red. I had wanted to for years, but was afraid of the expense required to maintain the color: red, after all, is the hardest to hold on to. It can also go badly, badly wrong. No way was I going to do it myself!
After a bit of research, I decided to try Samuel Cole Salon. The reviews were consistently good, and unlike other salons I called, their receptionist was very personable on the phone. She listened to my needs and concerns before scheduling me with a well-suited stylist.
My little sister accompanied me on that first trip -- at the time, to the salon's old location on Newton Rd. -- and we were both very impressed by Samuel Cole's atmosphere, service, and perks (wine and snacks while you wait!). I was introduced to Whitney, who, in addition to being effusive and good-natured, is also an attentive listener. After hearing my concerns and looking through pictures of the color I wanted, she explained exactly what her plan was before touching a single hair on my head. She answered all of my irritating questions (""What's that one do?"" ""Why is that chemical that color?"" ""How does this stuff work, anyway?"") with patience and genuine interest.
I walked into the salon a bangless brunette with virgin hair. I walked out a smoking redhead with a wonderful, sassy cut and freshly shorn fringe (and super-soft hands, courtesy of the chocolate paraffin treatment I got while I waited)! My sister and I were astounded, and over the next several days I got tons and tons of compliments.
I had several maintenance recolors with Whitney. Most of them went just as well as the first visit, but eventually we reached a weird sort of impasse: my color kept coming out much darker than I wanted, with a magenta sort of tinge that wasn't really working for me. The salon generously comped me for not one, but TWO recolors while we tried to find a formula that worked, which is a big deal when you consider the expense of a single visit.
The second time, they paired me with senior stylist Carolyn Nord, who worked closely with Whitney -- they keep digital records of every formula combination they try -- to figure out what would work best for me. She decided to try some block highlights and a more natural, coppery, saturated formula.
Holy SMOKES, did it work! I felt like a new redhead all over again. With her dry sense of humor (and shared love of Dave Matthews), her personality was a natural fit for mine: I knew I'd found my stylist.
I kicked off this year as Carolyn's model for a master class taught by internationally renown stylist Ronnie Stam. Carolyn worked her TAIL off creating four separate, beautiful looks that would showcase her immense talent while making me -- a geeky, pale, professional writer -- look like a bona fide cover girl. My citysearch profile picture is from that shoot!
Thanks to the precision and talent of stylists like Carolyn and Whitney, I am constantly mistaken for a natural ginger! I would recommend them to absolutely anyone and everyone who wants luscious, dynamic color that turns heads. You get what you pay for, and at Samuel Cole Salon, you get all of your money's worth and then some. I am proud to be one of their clients!
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