"Tiffany! Your hair is SO long!"
-literally everyone I facetime with these days.
And they're right.
So long, in fact, the digital frame we're chatting in cannot contain it, which is probably why it's so shocking. My hair is like, biblically long. No, I did not join a cult, and I do not want to become some kind of real-life Rapunzel (the Q-word has more than proven that to me).
The truth is, when I love something, I have a hard time letting it go. I'm not talking about my hair. I'm talking about my friends at Ingmar James Salon, back in Chicago.
Knowing I'd be stateside in December, I made sure to snag a coveted pre-NYE slot with the amazing, Jackie Scogna. To be honest, I had every intention of keeping this long-distance relationship up, but it seems the pandemic will derail my plans.
Ingmar James is a top-notch salon based on services alone, but they go even above and beyond what you would expect from a five-star salon. Quoting their website, the owners, William and Garret "were inspired to create a world-class hair salon to serve the neighborhoods of Chicago" and boy, did they deliver. This is a group of people who are passionate about what they do and who they do it for. Since opening, Ingmar James Salon has become an integral piece of social fabric woven into Broadway Street.
Every Halloween Hoopla (arguably one of the most beloved days in the Lakeview East neighborhood), their crew excitedly welcomes trick-or-treaters of all ages. There's candy for the kids and something a little stronger for the parents (J-E-L-L-O shots, my friends!). But as with everything they do, the experience doesn't end there. Inside awaits a professionally lit step and repeat, giving you the most red carpet Halloween experience. They send you on your way sugared up and with an instant Polaroid photo, memorializing the day. Ingmar James pulls out all the stops making this my favorite attraction along the trick-or-treat corridor.
Throughout the year, they offer workshops to teach you the tricks of the trade! For years, I had wanted to know the secrets of doing a fantastic blow-out at home. I was thrilled to register for a workshop they were offering to learn just that. A $25 registration fee held my spot. When we arrived, everyone filled their glasses (because first things first!), and the experts demonstrated the process step-by-step as we sipped our bubbly. Next, they treated us to a professional hair wash (which ladies and gentlemen, we know this is worth $25 alone!). After that, we got to jump in a chair and put our round brush skills to the test! The stylists continued to coach us and provide tips as we clumsily tried it on our own. Finally, we used our $25 registration fee toward any products or tools we wanted. I took home a fancy new round brush determined to become a master. I can't think of another girls' night out where you get as much bang for your buck!
As if all this isn't enough, they somehow manage to create a feeling of coming home to family every time you walked through the door- not an easy feat in a city of almost 3 million inhabitants. My daughter was always delighted to spend time there. The hot tea. The mints. The conversation. She loved it all. William, one of the owners, even supported my budding entrepreneur of a daughter by buying her artwork, a rainbow unicorn watercolor. When Olive received three A's on her report card, forced to make good on the promise she could dye her hair pink and the whole crew at Ingmar James celebrated her victory, just as proud of her as I was.
And don't even get me started about how Miss Jackie rescued Olive's hair from a big fat piece of Hubba Bubba!
I've been thinking about them a lot lately. Not just because my grown-out roots and split ends are racing to meet each other, but because I miss them all so damn much.
The stay-at-home order has forced their doors closed for now but I know they cannot wait to get back to making the world a more beautiful place (in every way!) because they live for it.
In the meantime, if you can help this Chicago gem weather the storm, I would encourage you to purchase a gift card from their website. They are still open one day a week for product pick-up when you pre-purchase online, and they're finalizing a post-pandemic plan to reopen.
Until then, put the drugstore box color back on the shelf and slowly back away. This concludes today's global crisis PSA.