New Year's Hairapy at GLOW || Los Angeles

The first few weeks of the new year always inspire experiments in self-improvement, especially after our livers have swollen to foie gras proportions from the season's gluttonous escapades and apocalyptic binges on fortified winter spirits. We could repent with a little more time at the gym, or more frequent run-walking expeditions to L.A.'s numerous canyons and reservoirs. While this is all well and good, I prefer something with a little less impact--something that will simultaneously help clear the cobwebs from the psyche and give me a style adjustment to suit the sparkling new year. I prefer to go to "hairapy"-- hair/therapy--with my seasoned stylist, Michael. One name only. [Pictured Above: GLOW, West Hollywood, CA].

After toiling as a hired gun in a couple of salons around town for the better half of a decade, Michael recently achieved his dream of opening up his very own place. His new salon GLOW (pictured throughout this spread) is situated right next door to the original Pinkberry on Huntley Drive in West Hollywood. The place is so new, it's snazzy signage only recently replaced the defunct Nutribliss banner slung haphazardly across the building. Though intimate in scale (there's really only room for two treatment stations), Glow's sense of luxury is expansive. Sleek and austere by necessity, yet warm in ambience, it's amazing to see what amenities Michael has managed to coax into such a tiny space. I'm most enamored by his inviting, Italian automated shampoo chair that doubles as a massager (pictured left). Now that's some therapeutic reclining to which I'm willing to submit.

It goes without saying that Glow's greatest asset is Michael himself. Unlike many other stylists around town, Michael refuses to wield the tyrrany of the shear genius. No "my way or the highway" for him. No inflated sense of aesthetic superiority which, for the record, has led to many an unfortunate set of "Minnellis" (or unnecessarily long and wispy sideburns) for some weaker-willed butches around town. But Michael is also keenly aware of when not to concede to your whims. Ms. Thang knows hair--how it is likely to grow, fall, or look when you wake up; how it's likely to respond to some products and not to others; how fast it grows in the summer and how little it thickens in the winter; what makes you most self-conscious about it after a month of allowing it to grow out, and whether or not you can really work a side-swept latter-day Clooney, or a war-torn Brad in Babel.

He also knows people. In my book, Michael is the best therapist, stylist, financial advisor, gossip columnist and naughty foods commiserator in town. He knows when you're in the mood to talk it out, and when you'd rather just sit in silence and let his elegantly curated (and never obtrusive) DJ house remixes wash over you.

I've been going to Michael for several years now, back when he was still in the trenches making other salons into something more than they ever could be without him. I asked him how he feels now that he's finally independent with a room of his own. With his characteristic wisdom and fierceness, he replied: "More than anything I'm proud to be the only black man in West Hollywood to have his own spot. You know that's a huge victory right there." He then broke into a wide, satisfied smile and coyly started a smooth victory dance from his shiny, new, ergonomic cutting stool. [Left: Michael in the mirror with Kangagi]..
- (KT)

GLOW
Appointments + Inquiries: 323.839.8369.
870 Huntley Drive || West Hollywood, CA