Not to be dramatic, but... for well over a decade after I moved to Seattle I wandered from stylist to stylist like a nomad with bad hair. =(
It's not that all the stylists I met were bad or lacking in skills per se, but none of them fit quite right. Some of them had great skills but our vision/aesthetic didn't match. Some of them gave me an excellent first cut and then progressive cuts got worse while their prices climbed. Some of them flat out refused to cut or dye my hair in a way that I'd wanted because "they didn't trust me, yet." Plenty of haircuts looked great that day and then never again... womp womp.
Then I met Ashley Allen. Ashley is super kind and welcoming; she's never once belittled my vision or complained about some of my quirkier requests (like "can you somehow cut my hair so that there are some wispy bangs when I feel like, but that I can also hide in my ponytail? What if I want to part my hair in the middle only sometimes but also to the side, and sometimes randomly tossed around? Kthxbai"). She gives me magical haircuts that look awesome coiffed and styled when I have time, but also look great when I let it air dry and fall naturally.
She's incredible. That is why I almost don't want to tell you about her. (Except of course I told my best friend, duh.) Only now that Ashley has opened her own salon, I want to shout it out from the rooftops GO SEE HER AND HER TEAM AT COLSIE SALON!! They've just opened a GORGEOUS bright and airy space in Arlington.
Ashley's work is so amazing that I willing drove over 1.5 hours ONE WAY for my haircut yesterday and I will continue to do so as long as I live even remotely close to the Greater Seattle area. My first cut with her was great, and each one has gotten better and better! She is magical. Go find her and you're welcome. =) read more