I must admit after the holidays I kinda took a break from getting nails done and facials. January tends to be a little quieter and to be honest I hadn’t thought much about taking time for me… UNTIL hubby noticed the grey roots showing. His exact words were “Whoa-ho-ho! When are you getting your hair done?”. You think guys don’t notice? …Right.
Well, my salon husband, Damian Golley, also rung me up coincidentally with “honey, I’m sure you’re due to come and see me”.
Damian and I go waayyyy back. I met him 11 years ago. At that time, I was a new mom and freshly back to work (actually toted my 6 mth old to the salon where we prepped a makeover photoshoot). Although I worked in the fashion & beauty world I didn’t think much about my own hair. I confessed…I went to Chinatown for $15 cuts. GASP! When the salon owner found out they just wouldn’t have it anymore. That’s when I started to understand the importance of good colour and cut.
Fast forward to today. Damian and I have great chemistry. I completely trust him. He has not failed me EVER. (I actually carry his business cards on me because I get stopped on the streets by strangers asking where I go, seriously).
Our visits go like this..
Damian: “So, what are you feeling this time?”
Me: “I don’t know, do what you want”
And then he goes and formulates the colour. Yes, formulates. I was always aware of him going to the cabinet and taking out several different tubes and mixes out measurements like a mad scientist. He tells me that when you go to a salon it’s all personalized. The colour doesn’t just come out of one box. So, then we started talking about the whole industry vs at home colour kits.
There have been times that I’ve been tempted to just touch up my roots with one of those $10 kits..they make it sound so easy right? So, I ask Damian (thinking he’d just laugh me out the door) about his thoughts. He said that he does have clients that have attempted this at home but then what results often is a “banding” effect of colour. “Now you end up having odd colours that don’t quite look right” and more often than not, the clients come back to the salon in a frenzy and embarrased to get it fixed which ends up costing more than just doing it right in the first place.
Damian and I have a super relationship. He totally gets me – I’m a busy mom with a busy social life. He knows I don’t have (much) time to get dolled up. So, in his trusting hands he works magic for me and my life. I need my hair to look healthy and effortless. I need to run from the kid’s soccer lessons to making dinner and then off to some events well into the nights.
I asked him about loyalty…I never feel quite right even if I think about straying from him. I mean, why walk away from a good thing right? Well, 90% of his clients are regulars (old faithfuls like me) and the rest are people wanting to try someone “new”. He understands the search. “It has nothing to do with how much you pay..it’s about finding someone who understands your needs.” However, sometimes a client doesn’t know what he/she wants. He encourages new customers to bring magazine tear outs of what they like, but cautions “just because a look is fab on a movie star, it may not work with your hair texture the same way”. Come with ideas but also with an open mind.
I love the salon that he’s in now. The April Maloney Salon is nestled within a pocket of where the upper society mavens live, shop and eat. I know that certain TV and society personalities visit this jewel of a salon – not that it matters. I go because of Damian. Owner April is amazing. She’s super talented, friendly and has a cool confidence that attracts many loyal followers as well. It’s got a relaxed “no-attitude” feel to it just on the fringe of Yorkville.
I asked him for some gossip..he won’t spill. “What happens in the salon chair STAYS in the salon chair.” yeah yeah. He did say though that one client of his is a “kinda a big deal” in Cannes. At the film festival, Catherine Deneuve complimented her and said that Damian’s colour work on blondes is the best she’s ever seen.
Oh, and the funniest question someone has ever asked him…
“Is there something you can use that will stop the grey hair from growing in?”
So, how about you? Do you have that special relationship with your Hair Stylist/Colourist?
And in case you’re interested, Damian Golley and April Maloney are in Toronto at The April Maloney Salon, 178 Avenue Road (near Davenport Rd). 647-430-5573
*this post is written by me and based on my personal experience and not sponsored in anyway.
I totally “get” the salon husband. I used to have one until he decided to go across the pond and establish a new life there. But now, I have a salon BFF (who just happens to be April Maloney) and she’s been my salon BFF for 5 years now. She’s everything you said and more. I’ve been to many hairdressers who don’t “get” my hair. I’m Chinese but I have atypical Chinese hair. It’s thick, slightly wavy, bulky, frizzy. From the first haircut with April, she knew exactly how to tame this mane. She’s also very down to earth, very approachable and open. She had me at “let’s take this bulk out”.
Yes, in our teenage dream years we can experiment all we want. We have no cares in the world and it’s a time of trials and tribulations! Now that we’re *cough* older, it’s sooo amazing to find “the right one”. Yeah Frank!
I’ve done that once on Damian. Once. He was MIA and I had no idea where he was. Although the temporary one was good KISMET happened (or is it serendipity?). Damian resurfaced at the exact same salon I had done the cheating at! Freaky. I knew it was a “sign”. Good luck! But I’m sure your “go-to” will understand..this time!
I have naturally curly hair and have had some TERRIBLE haircuts over the years….some I don’t even WANT to remember, there was the mullet (EEEK! – when it was “fashionable”), and what I refer to as “helmet head” because they layered my hair & it made my hair HUGE!! Those were during my teen years. I then got to the point that I was afraid of getting anything done to my hair, so it ended up being down almost to my waist.
While I was pregnant I went to Frank – he was recommended by another friend with curly hair. I have found the only hairdresser that I have said, like you, do whatever you want.
He is amazing and I always come out looking amazing. My hubby likes the fact that he straightens my hair (which I don’t have time to do with a 3 yr old missy), so everyone is happy!
i’m going to cheat on mine on wednesday. well, she’s 45 minutes out of town and i need her NOW and can’t get her now. this fella is literally 2 minutes from my front door and makes my hair-twin friend look mahvahlous. i’m all nervous!