09/26/12 - 0 Comments
NYC Salon Spotlight: PRIVÉ
Attention readers in the Los Angeles, New York, Orlando and Miami areas: do we have a treat for you! If you’re like us, you’re constantly searching for that special salon to call home. It’s rare to find one place that gets everything just perfect, from haircuts to coloring to blowouts. We think we’ve found that magical place: Dual Show ventured to PRIVÉ Salon in SoHo NYC with none other than your Beauty & Health Editor (yours truly) as the guinea pig.
As a beauty junkie, I like to think of myself as adventurous with the trends. For the summer, I’ll pull out a dangerous coral lip goodie, pop in some hair streaks for a night out and suddenly I’m feeling like the chicest girl in town. But I’ve always been secretly envious of the daring fashionistas who could plop themselves down in a salon and say, “Do whatever you want!” Deep down, I’ve never trusted a stylist enough to be at their complete mercy. Enter PRIVÉ and Laurent D.
“French native, Laurent Dufourg is highly regarded as one of the top celebrity hairstylists in the world. A powerhouse and entrepreneur in the beauty industry, Laurent has amassed an impressive empire that includes PRIVÉ Salons (locations in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Orlando), ONA day spa, Privé Products and the new eco-friendly line, Concept Vert.”
Like most high-end salons, you’re engulfed in luxury from the moment you step foot into the salon. The warm and professional staff welcome your short wait with a cup of tea or cappuccino. We had Lucio booked for our “let’s transition to the autumn season!” coloring and Aaron for our cut and blowout.
I originally walked in, set to insist on dyeing my dull and faded brown hair black (again, a sign of my cautious nature). After a short consultation with Lucio, however, I actually gave him the go-ahead to do what he wanted. His expertise and love for hair is obvious and it was calming to be in the hands of someone who clearly knows what he is doing. The results when I finally mustered up the guts to peek through my fingers: a gorgeous, rich auburn brown (not black) that complimented my skin tone perfectly and added a glow against my complexion. Lucio used two steps to create this effect (but it’s still considered a single process coloring): first, he used a gloss on my whole head. A gloss calms your summer highlights while tweaking it just enough to add tonality. After the first wash, he added a second step, leaving a maroon auburn dye in for 20 minutes.
Lucio takes into account the skin tone and overall look of every individual client who sits down in his chair. As much as you may want those platinum blonde locks or shiny jet black hair, a colorist who really knows his craft will warn you against making such a mistake if he knows what will work for you (and what won’t). That is the gift you get for booking an appointment at a luxury salon: not necessarily getting the miracle that you want (for instance, your straight and fine naturally dark hair won’t suddenly become wavy, voluminous and golden without additional treatments that may damage your hair), but working with your colorist or stylist to get the best possible look for yourself. Be realistic with what your own hair can take and the looks it can achieve. Here are Lucio’s general suggestions for everyone considering their summer-to-autumn hair color transition:
Blonde hair: If possible, don’t go for a drastic tonal change in color in between seasons—it’ll be harder to turn back come Spring 2013. To deepen the tones and bring out golden color for the fall, try a rich gloss or a warm strawberry blonde.
Brunette hair: Try a caramel or auburn shade to deepen and enrich your color. Always gradually change the color in between seasons.
Red hair: The summer sun can do harsh things to red hair (or red gloss, if you changed your color in the beginning of the summer). Tone your red shade warmer to add vibrancy, or subdue your hue to a brown for the upcoming season.
Aaron did a fabulous job with my cut as well. Again, I didn’t dare to ask him to chop it all off. He wanted to keep the length of my hair as is, so he started with a simple trim instead of a blunt cut. Afterward, he continued for 20 minutes using a deep point cutting technique to shape my fine, thin hair and frame my face in the most flattering way. This technique is great for softening layers, creating movement and erasing scissor lines. Lastly, he added a beautiful fringe—and I’ve always thought I couldn’t pull off bangs! He didn’t necessarily give me lots of layers, as my hair is not thick enough, but the angles at which he cut somehow gave my whole look more character, more style, more finesse.
We topped off our salon experience with a blowout. See below for Aaron’s steps:
1) Start off by prepping your damp hair with PRIVÉ Thermal Protection Detangling Spray. This product is none other than a miracle worker. Blended with bamboo, cactus and kelp, this natural protectant softens your hair and acts as a leave-in while preparing your hair for heat—and it smells divine. You can spray it straight on your hair, but Aaron suggests spraying it on your hands and running it through. If you have fine hair, keep the product mainly to your ends.
2) Next, squeeze a small, dime-sized amount of PRIVÉ Concept Vert Volumizing Froth into your hands and rub together to emulsify. Work it from your roots all the way down to the ends for some lift. The product also adds and holds texture, giving your hair some body.
3) If you have bangs or a fringe, as I do now, always comb them. A comb allows you to give direction with no lift at the roots. If necessary, you can hold a small barrel brush at the root of the fringe and pull it forward.
4) Rough dry your hair with your hands. By now, your hair should be at least 75% dry before reaching for your hairdryer to smooth with a brush.
5) Ready for the drying? Aaron suggests using a medium-sized round brush for your blowout. For fine hair, choose a round boar bristle brush to give yourself smooth shiny results with more volume and bounce. A hot ceramic metal brush is a no-no for fine hair (especially chemically processed) because it’s possible to cause breakage. The barrel can get really hot since it’s taking direct heat. For medium to thick hair, you can use a boar bristle brush as well, or you may select a hot ceramic metal brush, which can give you better waves.
6) Heat up the roots by raising your hair at the crown and blowdrying underneath the brush. Always direct the air flow under the root, not the rest of your hair. Continue doing this, taking two-inch sections (for more volume and waves, take wider and bigger sections and, for more defined waves, use smaller sections) at a time, constantly going under the root of each section with your brush and blow drying underneath the brush. Work the barrel through this section to the ends at least twice to start the bend and for a smoothing effect. For the third time of this same section, twirl/roll your brush in its round direction when you reach the ends and let the heat set for a few seconds. To unravel and free your hair from the barrel, untwist the brush to make messy waves. Don’t pull your hair straight out from the brush; the hair is still hot and you’re just pulling it in a straight direction. Unroll the same way you would a velcro curler. You’ll get optimal bend for better waves if you do.
7) At the end of your blowdry, blast your hair with a cool shot. Cool air imparts shine and sets the blowout. If you have the time to cool shot every section, it’ll make your waves last longer. Add some PRIVÉ Detailing Pomade on your ends and fringe with your fingers (then comb through your bangs one final time). To finish off, spray a light layer of PRIVÉ Finishing Texture Spray over your hair for a light hold and to emphasize your waves.
Every single technician at PRIVÉ salons is guaranteed to be the best trained and most talented in the business, as they are selected through a rigorous process by Laurent D. himself, who looks for “refined artistic ability, personality and a certain savoir faire.”
The PRIVÉ products are exclusive to the salons. Check out their eco-friendly line, Concept Vert.
When I floated out the door of PRIVÉ, with my new head of hair suddenly feathery, light and layered, I could have sworn a trio of cartoon birds had just brushed my locks and swept them up with princess ribbons. I’ve rarely ever stepped out of a salon feeling 100% satisfied—a magical place, indeed. Besides that, my hair usually tends to lose its shimmery salon touch after the next few washes, and falls flat again into an awkward stage where its adapting to the new style—but this has yet to happen after this cut. If you’re in the vicinity of a PRIVÉ, we urge you to RUN, not walk, to the nearest one and get yourself into a seat at the salon immediately.
