I’ve always been proud of my virgin hair. I’ve never had it colored (not even just highlights), relaxed, or even subjected it to hot oil treatment. I guess I’m lucky that I don’t really need them, since my hair’s naturally straight and brownish, but maybe it’s also because I’m wary of letting other people touch my hair!

But when the opportunity to try one of Essensuals Toni&Guy’s services came along, I thought, what the heck, if I was going to let anyone do their magic on my mane, at least let a world-renowned salon do it! And I was leaving for the US, too, two days after we visited the Essensuals Toni&Guy salon in Crowne Plaza Hotel, so it was definitely the right time to have them do the deed! And as it turns out, that first time was truly an unforgettable experience.

For the benefit of those who don’t know where the Ortigas Essensuals Toni&Guy salon is, although it’s located inside Crowne Plaza Hotel, it’s easily accessible from Robinsons Galleria’s East Wing. You know where Gold’s Gym and Friday’s is in Galleria? Take the escalator there, go up to the second level, and look for the entrance to Crowne Plaza on that level (which is the same level as 50th Avenue). If I’m not mistaken, it’s beside SPF. Once you enter, turn left then go straight. You can’t miss the eye-catching salon along the hall.

Before I had my treatment, I was given a very relaxing, makes-me-want-to-lie-down shoulder massage. It was a very fitting thing to get into, considering my frazzled nerves. When they cleaned my hair, I enjoyed the Christmasy scent of their shampoo, which reminded me of candy cane. I later on found out that they use TIGI Bed Head shampoo, which truly pleased me, as incidentally, Bed Head carries one of my favorite hair styling products of all time (Bed Head Small Talk). 

Anyway, the stylist explained that the treatment they were giving me (the Vegetarian Miracle treatment from Davines, which starts at P1,000 depending on hair length) was to make my hair softer and shinier. At first, I was skeptical because—not to sound arrogant—my hair already was soft and shiny as it was. They applied some sort of paste on my hair and wrapped my head with cling wrap. They let it stand for a bit, then rinsed it off. When they dried my hair, I became a believer.

Visually, there wasn’t really a big difference with how my hair looked. But the distinction was when I run my fingers through my hair. Think of it this way: I couldn’t stop running my fingers through my hair (and so did my boyfriend when we saw each other after). I then realized that no matter how soft and shiny your hair already is, it can always be softer and shinier. 

Another great thing about the treatment was when I flew to the US after two days, my hair was still at its most manageable, despite the weather. When I last went to the US years ago, my hair was at its ultimate blah because of the cold weather combined with the frequent hot showers my hair was subjected to. But when I recently went there, my Essensuals Toni&Guy treatment kept the potential frizz and dullness at bay, and my hair was just as cooperative as it has been in the Manila weather it’s been used to. And as I write this, I realize that truly, my first time will definitely be the last—especially if at the hands of the pros at Essensuals Toni&Guy in Crowne Plaza!

 

The Essensuals Toni&Guy styling team, with Technical Director Paul Ashton at the center

 

Essensuals Toni&Guy is located at the third floor of Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas Center. For appointments, call 6330805 or 6330813

 

This entry was posted on Monday, December 8th, 2008 at 9:00 am and is filed under Beauty and Personal Care. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.