Weekend in review (part 2)

Before my lovely dinner at Manta in Woolloomooloo on Saturday night, I had a 3pm appointment with Matthew, my new hairdresser at Redz Colourbox/Orla Quinlan in Surry Hills.

Everyone knows it is hard to find a good hairdresser in the city and I've been through 4 salons in around 4 years.  They are either too pretentious or the hairdresser leaves, or in the most recent case I had been going to a certain salon on Park Street for around 18 months or so and turned up to my early morning appointment (a few short hours before flying to Europe) only to be told on the spot that my stylist was not in and I would have to reschedule.  RESCHEDULE? I was getting on a plane in a few hours.  So I did my usual "Get me another stylist or else" tirade and eventually they sat me down with a glass of water and told me that the senior stylist would be with me in just a moment.

He was fine and all, but he wasn't my stylist.  Not to mention I had to pay more.  I thought that his blowdry left much to be desired and that despite all his goings on about how he was the best blowdry technician they had in the salon I thought it was pretty terrible.

Why couldn't someone have called me when they found out that my stylist was sick? That way I could have sourced another salon elsewhere in the meantime or just not bothered and gone to the gym instead!

So between my Europe trip and now my hair has grown to the bottom of my back.  It was dead, lifeless and really straight.  I was really getting sick of it and with summer approaching decided to do something different and find someone new.

I have walked past this new salon every Saturday for the last 6 weeks or so when I go to drop off the dry cleaning and it looks so lovely and bright and NEW.  I love the word NEW don't you? New clothes + new hair = new you.  Anyway, I was tempted but nervous.  I rang them a few weeks ago and made a booking for a cut and blowdry and figured what did I have to lose? My hair would grow back if I didn't like it.

It turns out that Matthew and Orla who own/manage/run the entire salon on their own are from Ireland.  They have the most beautiful accents and couldn't be anymore welcoming.  The glass of Rose was a nice touch too.

The salon itself had a wonderful breeze flowing through on a rather warm day.  Matthew treats his job like it's his hobby, with great passion and joy with every cut.  I knew I would be content with my hair in his hands and as it turns out, I was more than content.

My hair now has layers, life and is shiny, healthy and dare I say it again, new!  I can't wait to go see Matthew again soon to see what he can do with the colour.

Just another wonderful part of my first study-free weekend for the summer.

Elle