Hey everyone :) From my previous blog posts, you will know that although I occassionally have my hair treated with the Brazilian Blowdry, I don't very often have my hair cut by anyone other than my Mum. She is not in the hair business at all, but my hair takes sooooo long to grow, that when I do have it cut, I really want to be in the hands of someone I feel comfortable with and that I can trust in this regard.
Choosing a hair salon or hairdresser is, I suppose, a matter of personal preference. One needs to take into account the treatments you are thinking of having regularly and also consider your budget when it comes to taking care of your hair. I know some people who are willing to spend alot more than others, and in my regular 'Is this worth the price you pay' fashion, my previous experience has been that the results have not matched the asking price.
After doing a bit of research, it seems the characteristics which one should take into account when choosing a hair salon are:
a) Location - is it convenient to travel to?
b) The range of treatments which are relevant to your particular needs;
c) Your budget constraints;
d) Professionalism of the stylists;
e) Cleanliness and general neatness of the salon.
It was with these characteristics in mind that I decided to try out Yemaya Spa and Hair Salon one Saturday upon recommendation of my friend, Mandy. My hair was looking just dreadful, I was feeling very lazy and I had an event to attend that same evening.
Location was no problem as Yemaya is located within walking distance of my apartment. Lazy me still took my car though and made it there in 2 minutes ;) I was in quite a bad mood when I arrived due to the ghastly state of my tresses, but was greeted so professionally at the front desk that I immediately felt better. I think this is a really important aspect that business owners sometimes overlook. Nothing is worse than entering an institution where you are going to pay for a service only to have a less than welcoming greeting at the front door.
I was thereafter referred to the stylist that would be handling my appointment, Craig Taylor. His introduction to the salon was warm, genuine and professional and I instantly felt at ease. That's all it really takes for me to become quite the chatterbox! We discussed what I wanted, which initially was just a trim and some general maintenance, but after whipping out my Kate-Moss-make-my-hair-look-as-fabulous-as-hers picture, we decided on a few extra layers, but still keeping all the length I've worked so hard for. I was happy that Craig understood what I wanted and respected that. It really annoys me when you have an idea of what you want, but the stylist still proceeds with his/her own preference of what they think would look best on you.
I had a wonderful hair wash with a head massage included and then sat myself down as Craig went to work. I took the time to peruse the salon and was very satisfied at the spacious layout, cleanliness and professional attitudes of the staff working there. Ever been to a hair salon where the stylists all have conversations with one another from across the room? So not on. I think its really important to remember that you are paying to be there and deserve the full attention of whoever is attending to you. I was extremely happy with the way Craig dealt with my hair and felt that I was receiving what I paid for. Though not one for dramatic hair changes, I feel that I will be visiting the salon more often and would recommend their services to anyone who is looking to have their specific hair needs met. I paid R320.00 for a consult, wash, cut and blowdry. Here are some pictures below and the contact details of Yemaya at the end of this post.
Rocking up with my Kate Moss picture of what I wanted ;)
Entrance to the Spa.
Lovely relaxing waiting area.
Hair washing basins with a view of the ocean :)
Craig getting started on cutting my wet hair.
Getting comfortable with Craig as he starts drying my hair.
All done and feeling chuffed ;)
Thank you Craig :)
Thanks for Reading :) SS
Contact Details:
Telephone: (021) 439 2266
Fax: (021) 439 8866
Aquarius Building 87-91 Beach Road, Mouille Point, Cape Town
Mon-Sat:8am-8pm and Sundays 10am-8pm
