3 /5 Mary Reynolds: Treusdell Salon and Spa is actually several independently owned and operated salons and spas operating in the same building with a common reception area. Due to construction and the awful traffic congestion along the route to my regular stylist, I decided to take advantage of a Groupon special and get my hair done closer to home during the holidays.
Betty Bahktiar is an excellent colorist and Im happy with the cut and color. Shes warm and friendly, too. I really like her, but I feel that people deserve an honest review, so Im going to be as objective and honest as I can.
The actual price I paid was more than double the Groupon price, even though I had sent her numerous pictures of my hair and what I wanted done. I had purchased full highlights/lowlights for half-off the regular price. However, when I got there, she said it would be another $65 because of what I needed done. Im a softie sometimes, and I just said okay and paid, but thinking about it now, I decided to mention it in my review.
I also felt pressured to get an expensive keratin treatment that I really dont need. It was a pretty hard sell.
My hair has been pretty healthy, even though it is highlighted, because I take very good care of it. Ive also been under the care of a master stylist who does excellent work. After she finished the highlights and pulled the foils off, Betty said my hair had a lot of damage. Well, it wasnt badly damaged before, so I was surprised and deeply concerned. However, after I got home and gave it a rest for a week, I deep conditioned it and its much the same as before - silky and strong overall. Any chemical process is hard on hair.
I researched keratin and Brazilian Blowout treatments, and Im so glad I didnt have it done. It turns out that formaldehyde fumes are released during the process, and its unavoidable - no matter what the product manufacturers say. The formaldehyde is what binds the protein to the hair shaft. For a person with badly impaired lungs (Im on oxygen all the time), this could have sent me into an exacerbation if not outright respiratory failure. That is per the MSDS sheet on the Brazilian Blowout products. So I immediately cancelled that appointment!
One last thing, and this is strictly a pet peeves of mine: I really wish salons would use care in their music selection. Ask the customer if they have a preference. I have pretty broad taste, but some customers dont like rap or todays pop music. Other than that, I dont care. Its irritating to sit for over two hours listening to music that makes you cringe. For that reason, most spas play soft, relaxing music.
