After getting some advice and investigating at three of the major international hotels in town, only one has the color I need. The stylist looks like she is a "stylist" and knows what she is doing. The drawback is the distance from the house and the price.
During my walk today, I took another way home and just down from us, not even two blocks away, I found this:
It is the kind of place that you want to be good. It's so close to the apartment and unpretentious. The receptionist leads me to the what looks like the head stylist in the back. The place is much bigger inside and looks nice (yay!). The stylist speaks incredibly fast Portuguese and we have a good laugh while I explain what I want in my half Spanish, 1/4 Portuguese and 1/4 nonsense. I have the recipe for color I got from Marlene, but he shoos that aside.The lady he is styling gets involved as well and pretty soon everyone in there is laughing. This is what I am really liking about Angola: the people! It's that warm, latin feel that I love.
The stylist says " Why are you worried about greys? You are young and beautiful, let the greys come!" What is not to love about this man? I decide to take the plunge.
That afternoon I return to find the salon much more quiet, the stylist is off in the corner with paperwork and realize that it is the young man that showed me the price list that will be taking care of me. Suddenly, I am feeling apprehensive. I can't back out now and my mantra "it will grow out" starts to automatically play in my head.
Two hours later, hair colored and conditioned and styled, I am relieved. The young man did a good job!
When I go to pay, my VISA is rejected. This is not the first time this happens. I assure them I have money and by now, since it is dark, my stylist, tall and imposing, follows me to a minbank where I take out money without a problem. The corner is filled with men hanging around and I know I will never take money out alone, in the dark. I am actually walked home! Needless to say, he gets a tip which I think he is very happy with.
All in all, my first salon visit gets a good, solid B. For now, I have found my salon in Luanda!
Went for a hair cut just this week and I will give the cut a C+. Had to go back and re-do my bangs. I don't think he is used to cutting wavy hair. Anyhow, re-do was free and it looks much better AND re-do was done by the colorist! He is good.
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