New 'do, new me?

Back in September, on my 30th birthday in fact, I set aside hours of pampering.

• Nails - check!
• Hair - check?

I breezed into Blow Dry Bar with a skip in my step, because I had found Jenny, via a meet-cute if you will -- I brought the hair and she brought the scissors. A match made in this funny lil' blog-o-sphere of a world.

Checked in I did and waited and waited. And then, that's about when my birthday high came crashing down.

Jenny was nowhere to be found.

Left, she did. No one bothered to reach out to her former clients (me, included) in an attempt to salvage something, anything or provide us with an opportunity to make alternate plans.

So, I awkwardly ambled around the elephant in the room and quite rightly exclaimed my disappointment to the stylist tasked with styling my hair that ill-fated day. We had a bit of a to and fro and she even gave me an out. An out! And like a scared little turtle, I pulled in my head and limbs and just sat there. Sad, bummed and reeling. 

It was, after all, my 30th birthday, and I wanted to continue feeling special. It's bad enough I already have a complex about my hair from having lost quite a bit of it a few years back.

In the end, the hairstylist did a sufficient job trimming my hair and finished off with a mediocre blowout. I never went back.

Side note: Scott saved the day with a special dining bonanza with a few good friends.

Eight weeks later, my ends were looking pretty tattered and I was still licking my wounds from having lost my hairdresser. As luck would have it Zoe Foster Blake (a super witty and funny Australian beauty blogger) posed the following question in a recent review, "Are you a contraster or a blender?"

This folks, was how I found my new hairdresser, Brent, and colourist, Emma, over at Xiang Hair in Melbourne's CBD.

My hair inspiration: brunette with dimension

The end result: a subtle swoop and highlights

I think my faith has been restored.  Here's hoping I can hold onto these guys!

Blow Dry Bar Melbourne Central -- celebrate with bubbles and blowouts in 30 minutes

Happy Birthday, Blow Dry Bar @ Melbourne Central

Got an event, don't want to bother with your hair for a couple of days or feel like getting pampered? Get thee to your nearest Blow Dry Bar, tout de suite. Recently, I was extended an invitation to check out the Melbourne Central location -- they have a lot to celebrate, because it's their first birthday!

Blow Dry Bar first opened their doors in Sydney five years ago and since then they've added 22 more locations; now they are setting their sights on the States -- look out, Gwenyth Paltrow!

Upon arrival I was warmly greeted by the salon's assistant, asked to take a seat and offered a glass of bubbles (yes please!) while I waited for my stylist to come out. A few beats later, I was sitting at the sink getting my hair washed and head massaged; it was glorious and relaxing all at once.

My daily fruit intake

For my visit I was asked to try out one of the three favourite looks as chosen by BDBs' stylists from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, which just wrapped up last week in Sydney.

Bronx and Banco: A simple look, yet exudes style in a modern, chic way

Alex Perry: A minimalist look with hair tied back into a loose chignon, yet still looks beautiful and elegant

We Are Handsome: "A 70s inspired look that is playful, refreshing and glamorous."

Together we, my stylist Jen and I, opted to go with Bronx and Banco's sleek look, sans bangs. Very rarely will you catch me without waves or a bit of frizz, we figured it was good to switch things up :)

Jen worked quickly and I was amazed by her ability to grab ahold of my hair without yanking at my head. Before I was through, Jen ran a flat iron over my locks without flattening the volume near the crown and set my look with a bit of hairspray.

Post blow out

Happy snaps with Jen

Can you believe she's been in the hair industry for 11 years? I can't! Jen started at the very young age of 13-years-old in Suffolk, England -- an attentive helper who earned her keep by washing hair and sweeping floors. About five years ago Jen came down to Australia for a visit with 10 close friends; I think she likes it here, because there are no signs of her departing this lovely continent any time soon. So far, Jen's worked with Kevin Murphy, Joey Scandizzo and has even put her talented hands to work at L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, Melbourne Spring Fashion Week and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Sydney. Not too shabby!

//Edit: I'm absolutely shattered, because Jen no longer works at Blow Dry Bar! 

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for a Blow Dry Bar Experience:

• Prices vary, but I think my style hovered around $60.00 AUS, which included a moisturising hair treatment.

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 10 out of 10 bags – bubbles, great conversation and you're out the door in 30 minutes!

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• I've already booked in for my next blow out, I'm hooked. They also cut and colour hair too, I just might have to make the move to a new salon!

*Special thanks to Frank PR for the invitation and Blow Dry Bar Melbourne Central for the hospitality.