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Monday, March 3, 2008

Tacoma Talk Beauty and Fun: Azarra Salon

I haven’t had a “regular” hairstylist in years; my low maintenance long hair doesn’t go to the hair salon that often and I haven’t found the right person or salon that I wanted to stick with for the long haul. Well, I have now.

My friend Kathy recommended her stylist, Aura, at Azarra Salon in downtown Tacoma in the mixed-use Harmon Building right above my one of my favorite eateries, Harmon Brewery (the location of the salon alone was a key factor as it gives me a great excuse to drop by the brewery and enjoy my favorite local beer, Point Defiance IPA). Making the appointment was a breeze as I was able to do it right online. I got an e-mail confirmation as well as a reminder e-mail before my visit. On the day of the appointment, Pacific Avenue was vibrant with people and activity. And speaking of vibrant, Aura’s style and personality matched the energy and the color of the city streets right outside her salon window. I liked her immediately. She was saucy, fun, and welcomed me kindly as I melted with her soothing scalp and neck massage. I also didn’t have to go into any kind of lengthy explanation or show photos of what I wanted her to do. She was intuitive; and after a difficult week, it was nice not to have to do much but kick back and relax. Better yet? She sent me a nice follow-up e-mail. How cool is that? Aura has her own blog which I found informative and entertaining. Click here to check it out.

So, I am looking forward to having Aura work on my hair color (which I very rarely do, but I trust her and she gets raves as a colorist). I also learned that the salon does manis, pedis, and massage. Kinda makes me want to make a day of it: beauty treatments, downtown shopping, and then end it with a Point Defiance IPA to celebrate. Ah, delish!

12 comments:

Lorraine Hart said...

I've only tried dying my hair twice...and my scalp really really didn't like it. I also have terrible memories of getting haircuts done with a razor, as a child...which would put me into tears because my scalp is really sensitive. I haven't cut my hair now since Grey Wolf died in '97. However...I would go for the massage part of spa day...oh yeah!

Out here on the Key Pen. Mindy takes care of my daughter's hair. With the IV Line, this is a lot easier than trying to do it at home. She has a salon in Key Centre, close to the Angel Guild and she's just wonderful...not to mention reasonable.

It's kinda funny...Mama Nature makes us all blondes...eventually!

Kim Thompson said...

Hey Lorraine:

Thanks for the note. I LOVE your last line!

At this point, I should have lots of "blonde" but I have very little. My mom is this way too. Very little grays. My dad? Starting going gray in high school! He's been calling himself the silver fox for many years!

Lorraine Hart said...

The Silver Fox is what we call Tommy Morgan, drummer for Little Bill & The Bluenotes.

When Grey Wolf noticed my hair greying he said, "Ah, I see you begin to wear your wisdom." I like that.

I DID have bi-level, purple do, with bleached streaks...but that was the 80's...went well with spandex and leg-warmers....
WHAT WERE WE THINKING????

Kim Thompson said...

No clue of what we were thinking in the 80's. I streaked my hair blue, then I fried it orange with Sun-In hydrogen peroxide product. Add that to the colors I paired (some in neon at that), and wowie, what a look!

Get Some Hairapy! said...

Ooh! Sun-In is EVIL! I used it when I lived in Death Valley and that was the catalyst of my mother forbidding me to color my hair until I was out of school!

Kim Thompson said...

Well, I got in trouble with the Sun-In, too. I fried my hair with it first, then proceeded to talk my younger brother (who I think may have still been in elementary school at the time) into frying his hair too with my help. Mom was none to happy with two school class photos of two orange haired children!

Lorraine Hart said...

Nothing like taking your bro' down with you!

Here's a question for you...why can't men and women use the same hair-colouring products? It really IS a question...not the lead-up to a punch-line!

Get Some Hairapy! said...

Lorraine, that is just marketing. The haircolor companies saw that men were hesitant to buy boxes of color with a woman's picture on it, so they created a product just for men (or so they say!)The biggest difference is that the products marketed to men come in fewer shades and are generally designed to cover grey, not to lighten hair.

Kim Thompson said...

Look,look, we've got an AWESOME hairapist in the midst!

Lorraine Hart said...

A Hairapist! I loved that one!

You know, I had a feeling it was all about marketing.

"Oooh no...a woman on the box...men can't use that...but now...that manly-looking aerosol can to spray on your bald spot looks good!!"

It's my hubby's birthday at the end of this month, so my daughter and I are setting him up with Mindy's barber for the full haircut, hot towels and straight-razor shave luxury treatment.

Kim Thompson said...

Ooh... what a treat for him Lorraine!

Patty Cake said...

Great Blog, Kim!

I would love to see a photo of you with the orange hair!