Whole Body

Broadway Bound

Cold air is the perfect weather to indulge in a sleek blow dry at St. Germain Studio

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One of the many things I like about winter (yes, you read that correctly) is that the air is dry. As soon as my hands require regular applications of moisturizer, I know that it is indeed Good Hair Weather. Freezing temps generally mean low humidity, and that means blowing out one’s hair – the process of using a hair dryer and nozzle to smooth curls – is not for naught. There’s no balmy air to instantly transform a sleek ‘do into a ball of puffy cotton candy. Since about age 15 I’ve been regularly blowing out my curly locks during low-humidity months. Through the years I’ve developed a series of systems and strategies, but the one factor I can’t quite work around is the time it takes, and even with seasons of practice under my belt, nothing beats a professional blow dry.

Tom St. Germain recently opened his eponymous St. Germain Studio, and I was invited to partake in a service as part of their grand opening celebration. Reviewing the menu, the blow dry caught my eye, and so I scheduled one for a late Friday afternoon. Being wintertime, it was nearly dusk when I arrived for my 3pm appointment. While the address is indeed Broadway, the salon is set back from the street and you walk along a brick pathway, following the shine and glow coming from the bank of windows.

Inside the salon has a wonderful vibe of being fresh and chic but without any pretension. Stylist stations are set against a backdrop of whitewashed brick walls; a pair of teal velour chairs are a nod to the salon’s past life as the site of Providence Pin-Up. I was offered coffee, tea, water, or wine while I waited all of one minute for my turn. St. Germain let me know that Kimberly Raposo – renowned for her scalp massage – would be shampooing and conditioning my hair. By the time Raposo had wrapped my locks in a towel, I was in a state of relaxation and ready for a seat at a
styling station.

St. Germain spritzed my hair with a heat-activated treatment and we chatted easily while he did all of the muscle work. Taking and pulling sections of my hair, he wrapped and unfurled my tresses from the round brush, directing heat from the blow dryer nozzle in swirling, almost choreographed moves. St. Germain also mentioned that he’s well versed in waves beyond the blow-out, having taken courses on making the most of curls and coils with learned cuts and styling. Just like the humidity, I’ll be sure to return.

Fun Fact: Lulu Locks of Providence Pin-Up fame is a stylist at St. Germain Studio.

St. Germain Studio

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