Hair colorist in Riyadh

Finding an experienced hair colorist in Riyadh took me longer than it should have.  It's not that there wasn't a good colorist out there, (though they are thin on the ground), it's more that, when it comes to getting myself sorted, I suck.

Granted, my first visit to a hair salon in Riyadh to cover the persistent grey that likes to decorate my head didn't exactly fill me with confidence regarding the hair dressing skill set available in the city.  The woman looking at my hair said she couldn't mix dark brown with plum (my usual colors) - she could only give me what is in the book.  I was shocked! What type of hair salon lets a hair colorist loose that can't mix colors!

It turns out the majority of expat Filipino women coloring hair in salons throughout Riyadh (and most are Filipion) aren't colorists at all.  Heck, I'd be surprised if most of them aren't even salon trained. They, like many of their male counterpart Worker Bee expats (and you can read about them in my post on Worker Bees), get sent to workplaces and are told 'Just Do It'.  So that's what they do.

Considering that even Hubster knows how to throw a packet color into my hair (though getting him to commit is like getting blood out of a stone and the end result varies depending on his state of mind at the time), if he can learn to do it, anyone can!  I have been known to throw a box of color at my head myself over the years, usually when going through 'budget restrictions', but no matter how careful I am, the stuff ends up splattered over anything in my heads vicinity.  Preparation for a self dye job requires covering most of the furniture in the room with old towels for protection.

One day, the gray afflicting my hair shafts required some serious attention.  I'd had enough of bad hair jobs, including Hubster's efforts.  (The last straw with Hubster the Hairdresser was when he insisted on having a movie playing while he did my hair.  Suffice to say, his attention wasn't really on the job which was a bit of a disaster!)  So, I called my compound neighbor who had been recommending Malonie, a colorist she had been visiting for some time.  The phrase 'She's not cheap' came with the recommendation and, to be honest, it was the reason I suffered so long with other hair care means for so long.

The cost, in the end, isn't that bad.  In fact, when you consider I get the color I want, she doesn't watch movies while on the job, there's no mess for me to clean up, it's nice to get out of the compound for a salon visit every month, she's a lovely lady and I'm happy with the result - then the cost is very little at all.

Currently Malonie is working a couple of days a week out of Four Nail Spa and Salon on the DQ.  She was working out of their space at King Faisal Hospital too, but the hospital recently started undergoing some serious re-development nearby, so getting to that branch can be a bit tricky.  The contact details, if you're interested are - Diplomatic Quarter (Al Kindi Square) + 966 11 201 4444,  King Faisal Specialist Hospital + 966 50 165 4444.  

Another recommendation is Sue, on The Arab Investment Compound (aka TAIC).  A few friends have been visiting her and are very happy with the results.  As an added bonus, Sue can cut hair too, which is really good to know because finding a hair stylist is yet another exciting adventure you ought to be prepared for if you ever decide to move to KSA.  To date I admit I haven't yet braved the land of the Saudi Stylist (and you can read about that here) - I prefer to get my hair cut at salons overseas (yes, I know, I'm a snob!)

Tomorrow morning I'm heading back to Malonie at Four because my roots need attention and although Madame Lily suggested I grow my hair out, I'm not brave enough to go without color in my hair just yet!

Ka Kite,
Kiwi

Yibreen Spa And Salon

Last month I went to Yibreen Spa and Salon.

It was my first visit and, I have to say, it's a nice place.
Expensive
But nice.

A couple of friends have been members at Yibreen for a while and have often invited me along, assuring me I would love the place.  Last month I decided to see what all the buzz was about.

The entry to Yibreen is somewhat unassuming and, once through the gate, you have to wonder if you're in the wrong place.  Unlike other ladies spa's in Riyadh, Yibreen's set up is similar to a compound.  Everything you expect of a spa and salon is available, but the areas are housed in small villas nestled close to each other in a setting that felt surprisingly serene on a cool winter morning in the center of Riyadh.

Hair Salon

The first villa on the right is the reception and hair salon.  The reception, as well as catering to foot traffic for the hair salon, acts as a shop selling products from bed throws to skin care.  The hair salon itself, though small, was clean, light and airy.  I couldn't get over the fact that there was a fairly large window in the hair salon and, not only did it let in loads of light, but you could look out of it.  Most other salons I've been too follow a similar design to Saudi homes - small windows, minimal natural light, zero view.

Across from the hair salon, is a small villa for showering and changing out of your gym gear once you've sweated your way through exercises at the workout studio or gym.  The workout studio, which is next door in it's own building, offers numerous exercise programs and the times are posted at the door.  A quick look through the list showed Yoga, Body Pump and various other forms of aerobics all led by experienced instructors.

We met one of the instructors in the gym which is housed next door to the exercise studio and is decked out with a small spinning room, an area for weights and a zone full of treadmills, with TV's to prevent you from getting bored, looking out over the pool courtyard.  She gave us some advice on how to do weight lifting exercises properly (we were only using light lady weights, not huge body building dumb-bells) and she was well qualified and quite delightful, from Canada.  If I do decide to join this gym, I know I can expect to start looking toned and fabulous under her guidance.

The beauty villas for your facials, body wraps and so forth extend from the hair salon toward the swimming pool that was looking deep blue and inviting on a winters morning.  The pool is warmed during winter, so even on cold days you can go in for a dip, though my Canadian friend informs me in all the time she's been a member here, she has been the only one in the pool.

To top off our Yibreen experience we took a seat outside the on-site cafe and enjoyed a latte in peace and quiet next to the pool, watching water gently cascading down the sides of the wooden water feature standing as a quiet sentinel at the end of the path.  It is possible, at this spa, to lie back in sun loungers and get a natural sun tan as the place is located in a block of it's own in, what appears to be, a more upper class residential area devoid of any tall buildings with peeping eyes.

As I said, it's very nice.

But you have to pay it.

My friend got her annual membership at the gym for around 6000 SAR for 6 months, which is about average when compared to other ladies centers, but that was on special.  The non-special price is a couple of thousand Riyal more.  

As I got side-tracked by coffee beside the pool, I failed to ascertain the cost of spa treatments, so can't comment on what's available, though rumour has it that you're paying for quality at Yibreen.  For research purposes I just might book myself for a treatment in the future.  

Yibreen Spa and Salon is located at 42 Takhasussi St.  They open at 10am.  Take a virtual tour through their website at www.yibreenspa.com or phone Yibreen on  01 441 1115 for more information.





Ka Kite,
Kiwi