Admittedly, big hair does seem to be shrinking. But we won’t give Thompson the satisfaction of attributing the trend to him. “Our lives have changed and so has our hair,” says Perry Henderson, who’s been tending Dallas tresses since 1981. “Our lives aren’t so full of formal,” Henderson says. “People are entertaining more at home and they’re less fussied up. They’re just as well-groomed, but it’s more about cut and color than control. Color is what we do—dark and light. It’s not all blonds anymore. We’re weaving color, naturalizing, and using lots of different colors, not just highlighting.” Okay, it may not sound like a revolution. But as Henderson implies, a change of style indicates a change of life, a shift in attitude. The new salon empowers clients, works with them, not on them. Hairstyles used to look like you could lift them off their owners’ heads. But now the buzzword in fashion is “personal style,” and that’s what good hairdressers try to encourage. Long hair, short hair, curly hair, straight hair, no hair, blond hair, black hair, red hair, blue hair—they’re all in fashion as long they’re in good condition. The one thing all stylish heads of hair have in common is health. The fitness craze in hair has given rise to a huge retail business in hair-care products. Sally’s, the largest chain of beauty-supply stores in the world (based, of course, near Dallas), sells hot-oil treatments, customized shampoos, dandruff controls, hair moisturizers, reconstructors, straightening balms, clarifiers, and revitalizers, products that repair split ends, control frizz, enhance curls, add volume, and provide shine. But the first thing Sally recommends its customers do for their hair is find a good stylist. And a good stylist these days is one who not only can cut, color, and style your hair, but one who can also help you learn how to care for your hair. “We instruct our clients as well as fix their hair,” Henderson says. “I tell the stylists who work for me to be professional. Like a doctor or a lawyer, stylists have to prove their value with knowledge.” Only in Dallas could hairdressers be compared to doctors and lawyers. Then again, we told you we took hair seriously.
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Best Salons in Dallas
Best Celebrity Spotting Perry Henderson Best Color Guard Richard Hayler Best Panache José Eber Best Energy Phillip K. Thomas Best Cut, Color, and Cosmopolitan Salon Pompeo Best Personality Paul Neinast
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Best Moms & Pops Clive & Co. Best Blow-dry and Botox Alan Stone Best Bob and Switch Michael Raymond Best Snip & Shop Luxe Best Family Flare Osgood-O’Neil Salon Best Thinning Man Salon Studio One Ten
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Best Suburban Style and Setting Terrace Retreat Salon & Day Spa Best Technical Knockout Jean-Philippe Best Keep-it-simple Salon Craig Michael Salon Best Glamour Man Tony Fielding Best Celebrity Receptionist William Carr Salon Best Salon for Bride on a Budget Craig & Co. II Best Bride without a Budget The Spa & Salon at the Four Seasons Resort
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Best Cowtown Cut Salon Moda Best Service with a Style L’Image Salons of Dallas Best Italian Claudio & Valentino Best Born to Be Wild Warren Wilkes Salon Most Significant Snippers Toni & Guy Best Fashion Forward Select Studio and Salon
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Tales from the Chair A woman brought in a videotape of her favorite news anchor and asked her stylist for a similar cut. The hairstylist walked across the room and popped the tape in the VCR, but before he got back to the chair, his client was running out the door. All the other clients in the salon went silent. There was no newscast, just an intimate moment between husband and wife. Her whereabouts are still unknown. Tales from the Chair After a client received a haircut at a Shelton’s Salon in Arlington, she went to a shopping mall. She was stunned when a fellow shopper asked, “Did you get your hair cut at Shelton’s?” After two more people asked her the same question, the puzzled client asked, “How did you know?” It turns out she was still wearing the smock. Tales from the Chair Listen up! One not-so-discreet stylist told the story about a party he attended to celebrate his best friend’s new penile enlargement. As he snipped and sheared, he went into way too many gory details. Too much for several of his clients who never returned. King of Color We sat down with Richard Hayler, one of Dallas’ premier colorists, and picked his brain about the evolution of Dallas hair. ut counts. Style matters. But according to most Dallas women, color is the most important consideration about their hair. In other cities, clients follow their stylist. In Dallas, for the right shade of blond, they will follow their colorist anywhere. No one knows more about the roots of Dallas hair color than Richard Hayler. A native Londoner who started out in Dallas with Toni & Guy and Alan Stone, Hayler soon developed his own following. Since opening his own salon in 1985, he has become the most sought-after man for highlights. D: How has Dallas hair changed since you first got your hands on it? D: What’s next? D: Most salons have gone into full service, but you prefer to concentrate on hair. Why? D: What’s the most asked-for hair treatment? D: What’s the favorite hair color in Dallas? D: Why is color so important? D: Why do you think your salon has been successful? D: Have you ever made a big mistake with someone’s hair? Richard Hayler, 6174 Sherry Ln. 214-363-1131 The Men’s Guide to Shaving Step one: go to Neiman Marcus Most men handle their own shaving because, presumably, it’s a simple task. So unless you suffer from ectrodactylism, like Grady Stiles, known to carnival-goers the world over as “Lobster Boy” on account of his claw-like hands and feet, paying $45 for a shave might sound a little extravagant. And it is. But every man deserves a little extravagance. No surprise that the place to go is Neiman Marcus. There, on the third floor, you will find The Art of Shaving, a two-chair operation run by Wynn Lyons. Lyons is a large man and a drummer when he’s not wielding a straight razor. But he has gentle hands. Though he can get the job done for $25, what you want costs almost twice that and is called a “Royal Shave.” First comes the steaming-hot white towel laid on your face, leaving only the nose exposed. Reclining in his chair, you can chat up Lyons, and he’ll tell you about his divorce back in December. Or, if you prefer, keep your mouth shut. Lyons will follow your lead and let Frank Sinatra do all the singing.
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Following the hot towel is a warm lather, then stage one of the shave proper. As stated, Lyons uses a straight razor. Anyone who has seen The Color Purple knows that you don’t submit to one unless it’s in the hands of a trusted professional. Lyons fits the bill. Next comes the post-shave shave, which is basically a re-shave, with another helping of warm lather and the whole bit. Lyons is thorough. And then, after some salve and a cool towel to tighten the pores, Lyons applies the clay mask. The clay is imported from Nevada—the Silver State apparently offering better dirt, cosmetologically speaking, than is available around these parts. In any case, the clay mask is a nice touch. Although it should be noted that few men look rugged in a full clay mask. If asked, Lyons could probably make it look more like Apache war paint. Neiman’s has always been known for its customer service. When all is said and done, the Royal Shave will require about an hour of your day (and don’t forget the $45). The great majority of men will have either the time or the money, but not both. We pity those men who have to shave themselves. Especially if they have lobster claws for hands. —Tim Rogers The Art of Shaving is open in the downtown Neiman Marcus from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. 214-658-8777. José Eber Does Dallas If it wasn’t for another Texas beauty, José Eber could be clipping mall bangs at Supercuts. But when he shagged Farrah Fawcett in the ’70s (her hair, that is), he became the darling of Rodeo Drive. Not to be outdone by Beverly Hills, Dallas women are also flocking to José. He hits Dallas every six weeks for two or three days for $185 consultations and $300 haircuts. On a recent stopover, his people called our people to offer makeovers. Two D staffers took the bait.
HAIR HEAVEN “Before” Look The New Look THE RESULT HAIR HELL “Before” Look The New Look THE RESULT The Straight Story WB 33’s Victoria Snee tames her curly Stick-straight hair, even right out of the shower. It sounded more like a dream than reality. I decided to do a story on thermal reconditioning for my weekly “Trendy Tuesday” segment on WB 33 News at Nine, and I couldn’t think of a better guinea pig than myself. If my coarse, curly hair could be converted to a luscious, silky shine, then I’d know for sure it wasn’t just another a scam. Salon Pompeo, 3227 McKinney Ave., Ste. 103. 214-979-0440. Price is $150 per inch of hair and lasts for six to eight months. |
