HEAD TO TOEZ has it all!

Remember my hair cut horror story from a few days ago? It was a lot worse than I reported. As Dot says, “How can you trust your hair to people who don’t even take care of their own?”

Ever since walking out of that discount haircut place I’ve been trying to find a salon-quality location that doesn’t charge salon-quality prices.

A handful of phone calls later, and I realized I was either going to pay $40 for a great haircut, or take my chances elsewhere. That’s when I was referred to HEAD TO TOEZ in Hesperia.

Melanie Fuentes. Isn’t she cute?!

As of this posting, their starting rate for a woman’s haircut is only $22. $22 ! At that low price, I was a bit of a skeptic, but my hair couldn’t take another day, and my wallet wouldn’t afford another dollar.

So I went. Centrally located at 15800 Main Street, Suite 180, in Hesperia, it was very simple and easy to get to. No navigating tricky corners or turns. No follow-here-to-get-there. Just Main Street. Boom. How easy is that?

Tucked nicely into the corner, this large, full-service salon exceeds all expectations. But don’t take my word for it. Go for yourself. Listen to the other patrons who are there. While sitting in my chair, I was comforted by the friendly banter offered by the staff with their clientele. Carefree. Relaxed. Familiar. Like everyone was family and getting together over a cup of coffee.

The Salon is welcoming with its warm colors, natural wood tones, and clean, open spaces. There’s no feeling of “walk-in/rush-out”. True to their name, they offer services from Head to Toe: Hair cuts and styles, waxing (face and body), massages, manicures, pedicures, permanent make up applications. They also sell the products they use. Each service has its own section, yet the Salon never feels crowded or closed off.

A little internet research, and I found they are avid supporters of LOCKS OF LOVE: If you donate ten inches or more of your hair for wigs for cancer patients, they’ll give you a free haircut as well!

As I was referred to HEAD TO TOEZ, I’d been told they decorate the Salon for every season and holidays. With Hallowe’en coming up, I half expected those costume-store ghouls to greet me. Not here! It’s cute, friendly, welcoming.

Hallowe’en Tree

I was greeted by all the staff. Everyone makes eye contact and smiles. As a walk-in, I was lucky Melanie was immediately available. And when I say lucky, I mean it!

Melanie is the kind of stylist you want for all your hair needs. Let me explain: I am horrible at explaining haircuts. I’ve never found one photo that is exactly what I want. So I showed her six photos and tried to explain “these bangs” with “that volume” with “those angles” and “this stack”… thankfully, she listened. She looked. She asked questions, and she made sure she understood.

She explained the entire process, and when my choice of style wasn’t going to work, she told me so. How refreshing! Someone who has an eye for what works and what doesn’t, and isn’t afraid to make suggestions! I’d much rather be told what works instead of walking out with my chosen style that doesn’t.

Melanie at Work

I stuck to my main idea (a pixie), and she was great. After a bit of discussion, she rightly convinced me that a shorter pixie would be a “shock”. Since I’ve had the medium-length hair for a while now, I opted to keep it a few inches longer. And I love it!

Let me say that again: I. Love. My. Hair!

From this:

Pulled Back Hair

To this:

Before the Color

To this:

After Color

Here’s how hair-gifted Melanie is. I went in for my haircut yesterday. As she worked, we chatted and I told her my discount-hair-place horror story. I mentioned that I was also thinking of getting my hair colored, and how thankful I was I didn’t let that other place touch me. I asked how much she would charge. Again, I was blown away by how inexpensive this Salon is! We set up a color appointment for this morning. I simply told her, “auburn,”and let her take care of the details.

When I returned this morning, I asked which auburn did she choose for me? She explained the color perfectly: one that is more like a maple brown, with touches of darker red. She based her selection off my skin tones and how I explained my style (dressing in autumn-y colors). She told me there were several options available, and maybe closer to the holidays I might like to try one with violet undertones. Yes, Melanie, I think I might!

The best part about Melanie being my stylist? She took photos with her own cell phone. Front. Back. Sides. And she made notes of which color she used. So when I call her next month and say, “Melanie, I need a trim,” I don’t have to remember how to explain this style she came up with. I don’t have to remember how to explain this color she picked. She’s that efficient!

And she’s smart, too. We talked about finances and children and families and schooling and life… Melanie’s articulate, thoughtful, and brainy. She can comfortably hold a conversation no matter what the topic. This girl is goin’ places!

It took me less than fifteen minutes to ask if I could write her up on the Blog, to which she agreed. She thinks I’m doing her a favor with free advertising. Puh-leese, Melanie! Did you see those Before-and-After photos above? You so deserve this… and more!

If you live in the High Desert Area and are looking for a new stylist/Salon, contact Melanie Fuentes at HEAD TO TOEZ Salon on Main Street in Hesperia. Tell her I sent you. She’s waiting with skilled scissors. And, I suspect, a cup of coffee.

And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!

[DISCLAIMER: All opinions and reviews in this post are my own. I was not compensated in any manner for this posting. I offered to write this as a result of the exceptional services I received from Melanie Fuentes and Head to Toez Salon.]

Feta Tomato Spinach Salad in a Jar

I’ve been waiting for this day. This day when I finally used my new OXO International Good Grips Little Salad and Herb Spinner. Right away, the size is perfect. My little two-person household doesn’t eat much salad so using a full head of lettuce or other greens can lead to waste.

Last week I bought a set of 4 oz. canning jars. They’re the perfect serving size for us. For desserts, a special beverage, and yes, even salads. I’ve been planning to make my Feta, Tomato and Spinach Salad since I bought them. Enter the ease of OXO.

I started with just four simple ingredients: fresh spinach, crumbled Feta cheese, cherry Roma tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil.

After tearing a handful of spinach leaves, I rinsed them in the basket then spun them. This spinner is unlike any other I’ve experienced. It’s so small and easy to manage. The solid push-down button works so lightly, so easily. And the non-skid base made it worry-free. [You try juggling a camera in one hand and a salad spinner in the other! OXO makes it easy!]

After just a few quick pumps of the spinner, I removed the basket and dumped out the water. The spinach leaves were fresh, vibrant, and ready to go into the Spinner Bowl.

Next I cut the tomatoes. With small cherry Romas, it was quick and easy. Just look at those juices pouring out!

Then I topped it with the crumbled Feta cheese and tossed.

Now comes the part I’d been waiting for: the “canning” of my salad. I put in several spoonfuls, making sure that each serving had a delicious mix of the spinach, Feta, and tomatoes. I then lightly drizzled each jar with the olive oil.

Doesn’t that just scream “flavor”?!

I now have six mini salads in my refrigerator, just waiting to be eaten! How simple is that?

A little added dash of salt, pepper, and maybe a few croutons, and you’ve got yourself a salad!

Thanks, OXO!

And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!

[Disclaimer: I’m an active member of the OXO Blogger Outreach Program, as well as an Amazon Affiliate. I have not been compensated by OXO in any way for this post, and all opinions and reviews are my own.]

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“What’s the Word?” Wednesday: October 17, 2012

I’m healthiest when I’m writing: it’s cathartic, imaginative, organizational, therapeutic. I just love writing. And lately, I love photography. With two brothers who are professional photographers and a daughter who’s a natural, you’d think it would be easy for me. But it’s not. So I spent the better part of a thirty minute phone call with one of my brothers having him explain the simplest terms like aperture and shutter-speed. Now that I have a basic understanding of this and more (automatic white balance, anyone?), I’m very excited to see great improvements here at Frankly, My Dear…

For instance…

THIS

Became THIS

And THIS

Became THIS

Pretty cool, eh?

I certainly think so!

My brother checked out my camera online. I was crazythrilled when he said, “(Almost an expletive!) Mol! You’ve got a great camera!” Coming from a professional, that’s sayin’ something. Now all I need is this:

[Amazon Affiliate Link]

For this week, I’ll start with reading more of the owner’s manual. Anything I can’t interpret? I’ve got an app for that: I call it the iBrother.

And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!

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