Getting a Blowout I mean a “brushing” in the city of lights.

Nobody likes bad hair, and there is nothing worse then having bad hair when you are traveling. I have heard that one can struggle with their hair when in Paris. Some say it is because the water is very hard in Paris, and the deposits left on your hair can weigh it down and make it hard to manage. Others say it is hotel hair dryers. I think it may be a combination of a number of factors. The water may indeed be hard, also it is quite windy in Paris and many of the pathways in the parks use a dusty, fine sand-like element which becomes air borne quite easily. But what ever the case may be, my hair was giving me some grief.

And two nights before I was due to leave I gave my suit cases to my step family who I would be staying with my last night in Paris. I had to check out of my hotel Friday morning and of course I did want to lug my suitcases around all day, so Thursday evening when my step sister dropped me off at the hotel she took my luggage with her. However, I had neglected to take my hairbrush out of my overnight bag and I was unable to wash my hair. And by the time we had returned to the hotel it was too late to run out and buy a brush so I was stuck.

And to make matters worse I had not washed it the night before. I had wanted to wash it Thursday evening and let it air dry, but without a brush to brush it out, this just wasn’t going to happen. I would be left with one giant knot ball. It may be clean but I would look like I had an over-sized dread lock on my head. I tried curling it with a curling iron I purchased in Paris, but to no avail. Either this curling iron is a dud or my hair was really dirty because I did not get one curl, not even a wave, not even a dent. Nada. I think it may have been the dust in my hair from the Tuileries but it was a no go. I had stringy dirty hair. And I was going out to dinner to a fancy restaurant that night. What should I do? I had planned on going to the Musee Orsy. A museum, or a blowout? Hmm.

I wondered, do Parisian women get blowouts? Is there such a thing as a blowout in France? So I took to the internet and after a bit of research I discovered, that yes Parisian women do indeed get blowouts. However in France they call it “brushing” you want to ask for a shampoo and brushing. And via Vogue I discovered Saravy which is located in the Montorgueil area of Paris in the first and second arrondissements, and refers to the infamous street—Rue Montorgueil. A street that is known for it’s cafes, restaurants, salons, bakeries, wine stores, cheese shops and flower shops. A real haven for foodies. You can take the 3, 4 or 9 trains to this area. I took the 9 to the Bonne Nouvelle stop and then walked south.

The price for my blowout was 35 Euros, cheap by NYC prices. And for France this was on the high end. The salon was beautiful, clean and quite. When they shampoo your hair which includes a ten minute massage, they dim the lights, recline your chair and you get to watch peaceful images of waterfalls, babbling brooks and floating sea horses accompanied by soothing mediation like music. We are talking pampering here.

This was one of the best blowouts I have ever received. My regular readers know I don’t like the blowouts I get in New York, they are either too straight or I end up looking like Florence Henderson circa 1977

I did not have too much trouble communicating and asked for a wavy blowout, and that is exactly what I got. This was one of the best blowouts I have ever received. My regular readers know I don’t like the blowouts I get in New York, they are either too straight or I end up looking like Florence Henderson circa 1977. But this was perfect, I had wavy cool girl chic hair. I will definitely visit Saravy again when I am in Paris. And if you are on a budget you can even get a “brushing” for 18-22 Euros. I saw a bunch of shops advertising this on my way to the salon. So a definite, affordable, guilty pleasure in the city of lights.

Images owned by ALLIE NYC.© And Saravy. Second image by Gillesmoulinphotography.com Please do not use without crediting/linking back to ALLIENYC.com and Saravy.com and Gillesmoulinphotography.com