Fashion & Style
Grateful Head: Not Your Ordinary Hair Shop
A few months back during a laundry session, I decided to take a walk. Venturing east on Dundas Street West, across from Trinity Bellwoods Park I came across probably THEE best named hair salon in Toronto, Grateful Head. As I walked past the salon, I peered in to see the sitch...exposed brick, crazy paintings on the wall but alas I was a late launderer and had come upon the place after hours. Regardless of that fact, I had immediately decided that this place was to become my new hair salon, solely based on their name. I mean, how could I not? Grateful Head? So. Many. Jokes. Brain. Exploding!
A couple weeks later, I made the call. Cut and dye with Lisa.
Upon my arrival, I went into Grateful Head with some serious Rock N' Roll expectations. Needless to say, what I wanted is what I got.
After chit chatting with my stylist, I realized that Lisa is the owner of Grateful Head and obviously very much a Deadhead. Dressed in rocker tees and admitting that she'll only hire stylists that play an instrument, she is indeed dedicated to the lifestyle. Lisa herself is involved with a band, as are many of the staff there. There is even a jam space below that is used after hours. Even more than that, they have "Rock and Roll Mondays" in which Lisa and one of her coworkers crank the rock and roll and cut hair at student-y prices (inquire within).
Because my new 'do was quite the process, it required two phases.
Phase One: A sweet "rockery" cut and then part of the dye (extreme blonde & black action).
(put hair on a break for a couple of weeks)
Phase Two: Complete rest of blonde and add in MORE black for that extra RAWK.
The cool thing about the two phases, is that Lisa didn't charge me for the 2nd phase. I realize that a lot of hair salons offer this if they want to "finish" your look on the 2nd visit, but most accept a little bit of money/tip--but she wouldn't take a thing. That is my idea of professionalism and having passion for your work.
So if you're in the Dundas/Trinity Bellwoods area, and need a new 'do, I suggest getting a little Grateful Head. Great staff, great chats and seeing as I went in for just the name and came out with a fabulous look...nobody's head is more grateful than mine.
Grateful Head Collective Salon
1006 Dundas St. West - Toronto
416.915.HEAD (4323)
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i adore her
Yes, she is great!
Lunchbag letdown, I'm afraid. Male haircut. Straight, short hair. Pretty hard to do badly. Not happy. Cut is uneven and patchy. Rogue hairs sticking out everywhere. No consideration for the shape of my head. I am actually going to another stylist this week to fix it up. Not pleased. Sorry.
If you're tired of lame Toronto salons that have too much attitude, or too little talent, for WAY too much money, go here for sure.
As for the cut - I asked her to thin out my long hair, which people usually do by taking a razor and going through it. She did it with scissors, and instead of thinning out the hair, she cut three separate lengths almost blunt, so that I had hair on the top that was cut blunt about 3 inches from the crown, a new layer of blunt hair 6 inches down, and another blunt layer 3 more inches down from that. I have done better at home but went in to treat myself to a decently sharp blade. After it was over, I mentioned that people usually thin with razors. In a tone that relayed she could care less about her life or her job, she replied, "yeah, I usually thin with a razor. I just wanted to experiment." The words were ringing in my head as I forked over $70 at the cash afterwards.
Several weeks later I worked up the courage to go to Charlotte at Parlour, who fixed it up beautifully. I will never go anywhere else.
The most important part was my stylist. I had Stacey, and she was great. She sat down with me for a few minutes before the cut to ask what I want. She was thourough and kept me up to date on what steps she was taking as she was doing my hair. She gave me exactly what I wanted and even styled it to show me how it will look, also so I can style it the same way on my own. I was quoted the price for a cut, but she went above and beyond with styling my hair and charged me the same price.
Thank you Stacey... I finally found a cool hairdresser and an awesome salon.
Pass it on!!