Between work, yoga and trying to find a parking spot on Larchmont Boulevard, I’ve always wondered how certain women always—always—look like they just stepped out of the salon. Well, that’s because they probably have. But if you’re like me and not up for spending $40 to $70 a week on a blowout, I found the solution: Salon Apprentice. Here’s how it works.
Basically it’s a site where you can sign up to be a volunteer hair model for stylists who are displaying their skills for certification or to get a new job. I signed up as a volunteer for blowouts (because I’d never cheat on my colorist!), then two days later, I got a list of a dozen different stylists who needed hair models in the next few weeks. Best of all, the locations ranged from Beverly Hills to Culver City.
I chose a stylist new to the Dry Bar in Encino, confirmed with her via text and showed up the following Thursday at 11:30 a.m. After a vigorous scalp massage (yaaas), Vi gave me the Mai Tai, a style that’s full of loose curls and bounce. (I was so impressed with her mastery of products—I even walked out with a $13 mini bottle of Triple Sec hair volumizer, which there was no pressure to buy, BTW.)
After being told not to tip as I checked out (there is such a thing as a free lunch blowout), I walked to my car and felt like I’d won the beauty lottery. In fact, I was so happy with the experience that I was thinking that I’ll double down in the future and sign up for the free haircuts or maybe even—gasp—color (guess I will cheat on my colorist…).
