Treat Your Tresses
From harsh shampoos to hard water, we put our hair through some tough stuff. Kelley Granger SHARES tips from salons that come to the rescue, ready to save your hair.
Brazilian Blowout
($350 to $600; depending on length and thickness of hair.)
Jaafar Tazi, Greenwich
The goal: To smooth hair, provide relief from humidity and minimize frizz and curl
How it works: Using a super nutrient complex, a proprietary polymer system and keratin, the Brazilian Blowout protects the hair shaft and seals the cuticle, says Jaafar Tazi colorist Alex Griffiths. Unlike chemical straighteners, it’s totally healthy and doesn’t result in pin-straight hair so you’ll still have plenty of body with this treatment. The effects are long-lasting: Your hair will look straight for three to six months after your appointment.
Insider tip: This process can be lengthy (up to two hours), so if you’re strapped for time ask for an additional set of hands when you make your appointment — Griffiths often does the treatment in tandem with another stylist for no extra charge.
Address: Jaafar Tazi, 149 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich; 203-340-2525, jaafartazi.com.
Restorative Hair Repair Treatment
($125; allow 45 minutes to an hour for your appointment)
Frédéric Fekkai, Greenwich
The goal: To revive hair by boosting the keratin and protein levels
How it works: The salon’s specialists will analyze your hair type and create a treatment designed specifically for your hair, says Alexandre Chouery, creative director at the salon. This custom potion could include a variety of ingredients such as keratin and collagen, but the treatment is totally unique to each client’s specialized hair care needs, says Chouery.
Insider tip: To maximize shine, get this treatment two to three weeks after having your hair color done.
Address: Frédéric Fekkai, 2 Lewis Ct., Greenwich; 203-861-6700, fekkai.com/salons/Greenwich.
De-Mineralizing
($40; expect your appointment to last 20 to 30 minutes)
Noble Salon, Stamford
The goal: To remove minerals causing discoloration and distress, especially to porous hair colors like blonde and gray.
How it works: The ingredients naturally weaken minerals’ hold on hair, washing them away. This balances the pH, neutralizing while it conditions the hair, says Pia Livoti, artistic director at Noble salon. The treatment is a great option if you’re looking for a solution to remove orange, brassy colors and bluish green undertones, which are the result of hard water, well water and pipe sediment in older homes.
Insider tip: Book this treatment before your color appointment for dazzling results, and follow-up at home with Malibu’s Hard Water Weekly Demineralizer. Then, when you’re in the shower, run your water for a few minutes, dispersing some of the mineral build up before shampooing.
Address: Noble Salon, 848 High Ridge Rd., Stamford; 203-322-8483, noblesalon.com.
Green Walnut Hydrating and Repairing Treatment
($36; the treatment usually takes just 10 to 15 minutes.)
Warren-Tricomi, Greenwich
The goal: To nourish, moisturize and soften hair to achieve silky smoothness
How it works: Warren-Tricomi hair colorist Belkys Schimto says this treatment delivers ingredients to the hair as tiny molecules, which increases the absorption of healing agents like walnut, chamomile, lavender, vitamin E and more. She recommends using the treatment once a week for the best results for your hair.
Insider tip: While you can buy this product at the salon and use it at home on your own, be forwarned — you won’t get the added benefit of using the salon’s heat lamps as you would when you’ve scheduled your appointment at the salon.
Address: Warren-Tricomi, 1 E. Putnam Ave., Greenwich; 203-863-9300, warrentricomi.com.
