Tucked away behind an art gallery in the heart of Beverly Hills, a block away from famed Rodeo Drive, Nelson J Salon is a hive of activity. Bleached blondes going blonder, stylists and clients gossiping away (about anyone we know?), and owner and master colorist Nelson Chan is hustling from one chair to another, his blonde mop and black glasses making him instantly recognizable.
He takes one look at my hair and instructs an employee, “Shampoo. The rosemary mint.” I’ve been neglecting my hair of late, immobilized with indecision. Shorter? Straighter? Colored? Cropped? Needless to say, I need the calming yet invigorating deep cleansing shampoo by Aveda (most likely to get out the argan oil I’ve been using lately in a vain attempt to inject some life into my lackluster locks).
Then Nelson treats my hair with a gloss treatment to refresh my “color” (half grown out) and places me under a steamer. “Two hours,” he says, to which my eyes grow wide. “Just kidding,” and then he’s off to another client.
I relax with the latest People, skipping the crap about Charlie Sheen’s latest exploits (can we all please get over that already?). A warm, damp towel around my neck, and a cup of coffee and chocolate cake (his wife made it!) later, I’m off to another shampoo, this time with a “blue oil” massage. The balancing aromas of refreshing peppermint and soothing blue chamomile massaged into the temples (including a waving of the hands over my face for a nice waft of aromatherapy) both calm the senses while raising energy levels, while the scalp massage stimulates the scalp and hair follicles.
It’s over all too quickly, but I’m appeased when another stylist, Corey, gives me one of the best blow-outs I’ve ever had. Blow drying everything forward with a round brush, my hair is Jennifer Aniston-sleek yet bouncy and shiny. I can’t help but be a little shocked.
I leave the salon, walking down Brighton past tony boutiques, glancing at my reflection at every storefront, my hair almost as bouncy as my step.
Jealous? You don’t have to be! One lucky Audrey reader is going to get the same Head Refresher Service at Nelson J Salon. The treatment includes Aveda’s 99% natural hair gloss, a relaxing rosemary and mint-oil scalp and head massage, and signature Nelson J blow out. “This Aveda hair gloss is wonderful because it makes hair very shiny and also refreshes hair color for up to two months,” states Nelson. “Plus clients get into a state of bliss with the Aveda rosemary and mint oil applied to their scalp combined with the relaxing head massage.” The entire service takes between 45 minutes to one hour.
All you have to do is comment below on why you need this service, and also be able to come into the salon in Beverly Hills, Calif., some time in the next few months for your treatment! (Exact details and restrictions will be on the certificate you receive for the free service.) We’ll pick one winner from all comments entered by Wednesday, April 6, 11:59 pm PST. Good luck!
DETAILS
Nelson J Salon, 350 N. Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills, 310-274-1553, www.nelsonjsalon.com
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Hi Audrey,
Being a college student is very stressful and unfortunately is has taken a dramatic toll on my hair. On top of that, years of color damage produced by at-home coloring kits has severely damaged my hair and zipped all life out of it. It’s quite embarrassing as an asian to embody frizzed out and damaged hair especially when we’re supposedly envied by many for having silky and smooth hair. On most mornings, I wake up 15 minutes before class starts, displaying my bed-ridden, tangled, and frizzy hair for the whole world to see. Thank God, in college you see most people on campus once in a lifetime or else I would probably have quite a reputation here at UCSD. Furthemore, when I do feel ambitious and decide to blow dry and straighten my hair I unfortunately do so in the perhpas most unhealthy way. I currently posses a cheap conair straightenner and blowdryer from the local CVS and have no heat-protectant products due to my lack of funds for miscellaneous things. Basically i’m pretty much broke as textbooks and school supplies suck up most of my precious ca-ching. This is why I feel like a complimentary treatment at the Nelson j Salon would be ideal and, in my case, much-needed. It definitely would also be a nice way to treat myself nicely and relax a scalp knotted with stress.
First of all, I would like to say thank you to Audrey Magazine to give me an opportunity to enter TGIFree Friday Giveaway. I would be the one tha tneed this service because from changing seasonal weather, my scalp has been very dry and irritated that I feel that a relaxing rosemary and mint-oil scalp and head massage will be perfect to restore my scalp condition to make my hair healthier and shine through upcoming Spring weather. I also use Aveda products time to time and I often recommend Aveda products to my friends that need special treatment to their hair to look glamourous and healthy.
Secondly, I would love to vist and try service at Nelson J Salon.
Last but not least, I will look forward to hear a good news and keep my fingers cross!
Again, thank you for the opportunity to enter giveaway to have chance for pamper myself on Spring.