Well, the story starts in Christmas 2006 when I bought my mother a SpaFinders gift certificate. She gave it to me back for Christmas 2009!! A little upset, but now eternally grateful, I debated whether to use the gift for a very much desired massage or a spend it on something longer-lasting like a new hair cut or color. May 2010 rolls around and I work up enough guts to use the gift to cut my VERY LONG hair the way my friends have been begging me. I decided to go to Dupre's for a haircut. With only $50 on the card, I call the salon to schedule an appt. They had two appts available for the timeframe I was looking for, but the stylists were $20 different in price. I booked for the cheaper of the two being the tightwad I am. Then I went on-line to their website to checkout who was the crafter of my hopefully-not-a disaster. I read the bios of both stylists and quickly decided to switch my appt to the more experienced and expensive of the two. (Not that the other wasn't worth it, but I was VERY nervous about cutting my hair and decided it would be beneficial to go ahead with the stylist who specializes in the cut I was aiming for and who was a master stylist. I figured I might as well spend more to get it done PERFECTLY.) 10:30 AM on Friday quickly approached, with everyone of my friends more excited than I pathetically trying to hype up my nerves and rid me of the anxiousness. The place was BEAUTIFUL from the outside-in. The front desk staff were pleasant and never without a smile. Soon enough, I was greeted by a familiar face (from the photo on the website) with a name attached to it of "Matt." I tried to hide my nervousness but Matt was VERY kind and worked well with me and gave me confidence. He understood my anxiety and read my mind and cut my Rihanna-wanna-be asymmetrical inverted bob longer than the picture I had brought in. When he was finished, I was delighted that it looked a lot better than I thought it would. After going to work and showing off my new 'do at home to my friends, I actually gained MORE guts and to cut off more in the back to look more like the bob I was too scared to get! I'm never one to go back, but my friends encouraged me to do so. I'm so glad I did. I loved the way Matt did my hair the first time around and I did NOT want him to think I hated it by coming back. I just simply gained courage to get it cut even more. I called back on Saturday to see if there was anything Dupre's could do, and you'll never guess. THEY SAID I COULD COME BACK FREE OF CHARGE!! So I did. I met Matt again (who I assume allowed me to do this) and he's so great. He looked at my hair and went through it and cut it, blew it dry, AND flat ironed it and DIDN'T CHARGE ME A THING. (Of course I left him a little something afterward..) but I think the biggest tip he got was my best friend setting an appt with him right after I was done with my fixup! Matt is the best, and whenever I'm ready for keeping this 'do up, or changing it, I will definitely be going back. They do a lot of things there, Suki even introduced herself to me and gave me one of her cards to visit her at the Spa upstairs. Though I haven't had a chance to visit their spa, I know I will be there eventually. Now, a review of the facility and staff: You already know my feelings for Matt as my stylist. I would go to him again and again. The front desk was very nice and after the first cut, they made me feel like a model or a star. They expressed their enthusiasm for the wonderful job Matt did. However, there was one instance when I was in the chair that another stylist was working on another customer. I guess someone had called out of work (again) and the other stylist unprofessionally started to gossip about the caller-outer. I could have done without that in my experience. A pro? The fully stocked (and gorgeous looking) mini-fridge in the waiting area! I also like that they carry Bare Escentuals - no one knows this but I hated them automatically taking from my bank account and shipping me stuff. Now I can support my favorite Salon and purchase products there! I do wish they enhanced their variety in services to the numerous ones they offer now- which I'm sure in time they will. I'm speaking more in the terms of - I went to look on the site to see if they had they offered eyelash extensions and they don't - yet. I would like to see that offered as well as acryllics and more of a nail salon. Even if they never offer those services, I would still do business there!
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