Every month, BeautyNewsNYC chooses a fabulous NYC salon to visit and reveal to our readers its best assets. It has been a regular part of our monthly repertoire for quite some time now and almost every month, the story that comes out of it is a result of someone from BN (like myself) going to a salon and getting the usual: a haircut and/or color.
Well, not this month.
Although we love this aspect of our publication, and hope you do too, we realized something that has been creeping up on us but we’ve avoided addressing. All that color is in fact NOT good for our hair. It was time, we thought, to explore a different sort of salon treatment (still at an NYC hotspot, of course, don’t fret). If there was ever a time to see a true hair doctor for a deep conditioning treatment at a top-notch NYC best salons, it was now. After the summer sun has started to hide behind fall colors and the beach has become all too chilly to visit, we decided it was time to repair a season (or more) worth of damage.
A visit to the Philip Kingsley hair clinic did just the trick. Kingsley is the founder of the Trichological Clinics in London’s Mayfair and Harrods as well as the location in New York. A practicing trichologist (someone who practices the branch of medicine that deals with the scientific study of the health of hair and scalp) for more than 50 years, Kingsley has collaborated on several published research papers both in the UK and the United States, and has published three books on the subject of hair and scalp care. His clinics in London and New York have created precise hair and scalp products for celebrites like Cher, Audrey Hepburn, Barbra Streisand, Kate Winslet, Candice Bergen, Kirsten Dunst and Renee Zellwegger. We were sure his clinic would do just the trick in getting our scalp back in shape.
It turns out we got more than we bargained for. The appointment was more like a doctor’s visit than a trip to the salon. When I arrived, I was promptly seated in the clinic, with its unforgiving bright lights, sterile-kept hair brushes, medicinal looking containers of treatment and lab-coated “patients.” Brian Thompson – essentially a counterpart to Kingsley – approached me with a comb and started examining all parts of my hair and scalp. After thoroughly mussing up my hair, he said he’d like to “talk to me about my hair’s density,” and invited me into his office. There, he told me that he was somewhat concerned that my hair was thinner on top, a very early sign of hair loss that wouldn’t have phased him in the least if I was 35…but I’m 24.
Immediately, the panic set in. Fortunately, my anxiety was quelled when Thompson told me that it wasn’t time to worry and I was doing the right thing by taking steps toward proper hair nourishment. The consultation was followed by a menthol-infused conditioning treatment that was applied onto my dry hair and then steamed in via a steam machine that hovered over my head for 15 minutes or so. This was followed by yet another conditioning treatment that was applied via an extended scalp massage. I was then put under heat lamps for the conditioning to bake on, after which I was shampooed twice. Finally, a tonic was applied to my scalp and I was left to style my hair as desired – they don’t do blowdrys at the clinic, but they have all the tools you need to do so yourself.
Since The New York Times called Kingsley ‘The Hair Guru,’ and Vogue called him ‘The Hair Wizard,’ BN gave him and his team our own name: Our Strand Saviors. After experiencing the conditioning prescription at his clinic I couldn’t debate it – he’s a hair expert. Though I didn’t come away with a brand new look or style, I came away with something even more important: knowledge. I understand now how important it is to look beyond the aesthetic to find out what’s really going on at the roots.
Luckily, as conditioning treatments go, Kingsley isn’t the only guru to see in the NYC area. If what you seek is simply a deep moisture treatment, BN went the extra step to find that for you as well.
At the Manhattan Color Studio, clients can now benefit from the new NIOXIN Scalp Renew Treatment (in-salon) called NIOXIN Scalp Renew™. The treatment is the first patent-pending scalp and hair anti-aging renewal treatment. NIOXIN also has experts that can also provide expert tips and advice on deep conditioning, how to achieve healthy hair, common misconceptions and what people can do to add moisture/radiance back to their hair.
Scalp Renew is a natural dermabrasion treatment designed to dissolve the effects of aging by opening follicle sites, immediately increasing cellular turnover, progressively increasing collagen production and adding density and strength to hair. A blend of mechanical, alpha-hydroxy acids and enzymatic exfoliants restore and renew scalp vitality and function to increase strength, density and shine.
Valery Joseph, owner of the Valery Joseph Salon, says that the most common reason for hair to look dull is from damage cause throughout the season and in response, he recommends his new Hydrating Scalp Treatment. The treatment begins with a 10-minute scalp massage with Barex Aeto Botanica Scalp De-Toxer oil. Once the oil starts to work, dead skin begins to flake and loose, unhealthy hair strands are removed to revitalize the scalp. A shampoo follows with another massage, which then gives way to a fortifying conditioner that soaks the scalp for five minutes. In the end, you’re left with glossy, shiny locks that look like they never once saw the days of summer.
Another hair professional, Philip Pelusi gave us a little insight on what makes a good deep conditioning treatment. “The treatment should impart the moisture lacking in fall/winter hair but also support the hair texture and desired style,” he said. “Hair should not be left limp or weighed down. Look for skin care ingredients in your deep conditioning treatment such as Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium PCA. These are the natural moisture factors already found in the skin but are also found in plant life. These ingredients draw and bind moisture deep into the hair and scalp preventing heat damage, dry flaking scalp and static, all common problems during winter.”
“The best thing about getting a deep conditioning treatment in the salon is the correct treatment recommendation from the stylist,” Pelusi continued. “Your stylist is the best person to prescribe what treatment will best suit your hair and scalp needs and help support the style you are trying to create. Fall/winter hair and scalps need to be moisturized but also need to perform and look good. This proper recommendation also ensures you don’t make a mistake on the products your purchase to take home and to maintain the treatment.”
Whatever treatment you opt for, we suggest you visit a salon at least once to experience the benefits of a deep conditioning there. While at-home treatments are also beneficial and encouraged, there’s nothing like a pampered scalp to lift your spirits.
Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic
16 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10022
(212) 753 9600
Manhattan Color Studio
131 east 70th Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10021
(212) 517-3400
Valery Joseph Salon
1044 Madison Ave, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10022
(212) 517-2333‎
AND
820 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10021
(212) 517-7377‎
