Highlights at Hiro Haraguchi

There's something to be said for having a colorist who's blonde herself doing your highlights. They GET it. I went back to the fabulous flaxen-haired Jane at Hiro Haraguchi (Jane did a gloss for me the last time.) This time, I went in for a partial 'lights sesh, a gloss AND a blow-dry with Ronnie. I sometimes get nervous about a coloring session with someone new, but I knew that would not be the case with Jane, as she is psychic when it comes to strands. I simply asked for a "roots refresher," maintaining the same color that was growing out, but lightened up a notch for summer. Jane delivered, and I am LOVING my new sunny Kate Hudson-eque locks.

Ronnie washed my hair (which included a PHENOM mini-head massage), then he applied the gloss which stays on for about five minutes before being washed off. I am obviously still enamored of Hiro's wash station and simply cannot spend enough time there. Ronnie then blew out my hair while I caught up on the July issue of Lucky (with one of my girl crushes, Zooey Deschanel on the cover). I asked for a blow-out with volume and curled ends and that is exactly what I got. I left two hours later with sunnier, shinier hair and hoped I'd run into every single ex-BF of mine this city houses on the way home.

Of course, that didn't happen. But I don't care because my hair is fab.


Hiro Haraguchi Hair Salon, 41 East 57th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues, fourth floor (212-593-3030);
Hiro Haraguchi Hair Salon at Hotel Gansevoort, 18 Ninth Avenue, at 13th Street (212-660-6733 or hiroharaguchi.com

Photo credit: DailyCandy.com

Champagne, Chandeliers and Charmingly Choice Blonde Cheveux at Chris Chase

So after a year and a half of embracing my natural color (dark dirty blonde), I realized that the minute my realness had finally infiltrated each strand and this long winter without a single vaca had rendered it COMPLETELY devoid of lightness, I desperately needed to be blonde again. DESPERATELY. It was fun to switch it up and my hair thanked me for improving its health, and my finances rejoiced from being released from the burden of thrice-a-year partials, but let's be real. The money I invest in highlights I get back in free drinks. REALLY. It's not the case for everyone. I have friends who are GORGE as brunettes. Angelina Jolie is a prime example of a gal who loses all allure as a blonde. But I'm not one of these people. There's a direct relationship between my flirting capabilities, my happiness and the color of my hair. I'd heard about the fantastic Shane at the Chris Chase Salon in Chelsea and made an appointment for the next DAY.

Who's Chris Chase, you ask? No one. It's a made-up name by the owners of former West Village salon, Robert Kree. Does this not amuse you to no end as it does me? The salon is GORGEOUS. Sophisticated aubergine walls surround a dramatic chandelier. Lots of mirrors (just the way I like it), white floors and clear plastic chairs abound. The best part? You're offered champagne (or wine if you choose) the minute you walk in. So you can sip champagne whilst your strands are being transformed into a champagne HUE. What's better than that?

Shane is, BTW, phenom. We discussed some buttery highlights veering toward the golden, and he got to work. I'm loving the results. My eyes are more vibrant somehow and the blowout looks great. He introduced me to Shu Ueumura Fiber Lift Protective Volumizer that looks like a gel but thickens and lifts roots like a dream. I can't wait to return to Shane in a few months!

Photo credit: dailyobsession.net

Jennifer Lopez Headed to Rita Hazan Last Friday

Jennifer Lopez visited celeb colorist Rita Hazan (who had colored her hair for many years) at Rita's namesake 5th Avenue salon on Friday, March 28.

"She let me do my thing," said Rita. After a special hair treatment, Rita gave J Lo a chocolate brown base with toffee highlights. "It's lighter than her 'normal' look - we're working towards making it blonder for summer. A work in progress until the warmer months get here." Jennifer also enjoyed a shoulder massage by the lovely Marina before sitting in Juan Carlos Maciques' chair for a sleek and smooth blowout.

I'm totally going the way of Jennifer on this one. It occurred to me this weekend that while I'm enjoying the shine and health of my untouched-since-2006 hair, the reality is that I get a lot more free drinks when I rock the highlights. Just saying. I'm scheduling an appointment for some, stat.

Photo credit: wireimage.com.

Achieved: Glosstrous Hair at the Hiro Haraguchi Salon

Get comfortable, dolls. This is about hair, and I'm incredibly long-winded when it comes to hair.


This weekend, I had the opportunity to head to the Hiro Haraguchi Salon for a Keratin treament, rinse/gloss, and a blowout. The salon is gorge, it exudes the sophisticated minimalist Japanese aesthetic from every panel. I also had a hair consultation with the hair expert himself, Hiro Haraguchi. He's very honest, which I absolutely respect. As a long-time beauty devotee, I know to have a thick skin when this happens. He informed me my admittedly too-light front pieces looked like... GREY HAIR. I gasped. He was sort of right. I wasn't in love with my current colorist's work, it was definitely lighter than I'd intended. The contrast with my darker blond hair was too severe. But I don't think it was quite so extreme as to be construed as grey hair. But as I am the dream consumer (and a sucker for beauty), I gladly agreed to have fabulous colorist, Jane Margaret tone down the harsh 'lights while making my hair one uniform color. Luckily for me, Jane is mildly psychic and didn't give me what I'd asked for, which was a caramel hue. Caramel would have been too dark, though. It's sort of a medium-light brown, apparently. It's not that kind of party here at BBJ. If I'm not some semblance of a blond, I get severely depressed. Don't ask, it's a weird affliction. It always helps to bring a photo for that reason, dolls. When I said caramel, I meant honey. But Jane knew and whipped up a gloss that was the EXACT color I'd had in mind. I'd posit that Jane would be a phenomenal rock-paper-scissors player.

Before that, Ronnie, a doll of a stylist at the salon, gave me a keratin treatment to replenish proteins and nutrients lost to color, perms, drying, and straightening. The deep conditioning treatment takes 45 minutes and includes a mini head massage. (Keratin, in case you didn’t know, is the protein your hair is made of.) You can also get the shot as an add-on to any other salon treatment, and they’ll even provide you with take-home vials for maintenance.

We have to pause here and talk about the fabulosity that is the hair washing station at the Hiro Haraguchi Salon. Jane asked if I was comfortable during my 3rd trip to the sink. "I've never been so comfortable in my life," I answered. Each chair is a motorized COT. With a press of a button, you are instantly horizontal and are covered with a plush velour blanket while you have your hair washed. I mean, Hiro. What a fantastic idea. I always WANT to be in bed when I'm undergoing a salon wash. Now I can actually BE in one. In fact, when an additional treatment was suggested (the rinse/gloss) I almost SKIPPED back over to the sink.

Lastly, Ronnie blew out my newly recharged, glossily honeyed locks. My hair looks PHENOM and I am extremely happy with it. It's a tad dark for me, but I like it as a pre-highlights base. Just a few. My hair is no longer brassy at the bottom (from grown out highlights) and the too-light front strands are tempered. I will schedule a partial highlights sesh with Jane within the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned.

The two salon locations:
Hiro Haraguchi Hair Salon, 41 East 57th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues, fourth floor (212-593-3030);
Hiro Haraguchi Hair Salon at Hotel Gansevoort, 18 Ninth Avenue, at 13th Street (212-660-6733 or hiroharaguchi.com

Photo credit: dailycandy.com