I am loving this season (while I wish it would get freakin colder already), and all that it brings. You know my staples by now: dark lips, dark tights, and, obviously, new hair color! Give me those three (I have not had one pumpkin spice latte all season) and my fall happiness trifecta is complete.
I was in desperate need for a hair refresh when Leah from Kevin Murphy reached out to me. I had tried some Kevin Murphy products before (Hair Resort is pretty much as “industry staple” as they come), but didn’t know much more about the line. Turns out they use and stock the brand at plenty of Center City salons (so you know it’s good), including a place I had yet to check out on my Philly hair salon tour. Kevin Murphy invited me to check out Crimson Hair Studio (1710-12 Sansom Street) and get my locks upgraded for fall. Yes, please.
The salon immediately blew me away – I loved the exposed brick and red accents. I was a little under the weather when I visited, so my (several) cups of tea were pretty perfect while I waited and got my hair done. The Kevin Murphy line is stocked on the wall next to the waiting area (#dangerous), and I fell in love with the packaging.
I was greeted by salon coordinator, Lisa, and said hi to Crimson’s owner, Jen, and then it was time to head back to the chair. Becky was working on my hair, and she was fantastic. I normally go into hair appointments with some color inspiration (via images of Demi Lovato on Pinterest, mostly), but I leave all of the final decisions for the experts. Becky understood what I wanted quickly and was super knowledgable about the process and the products she’d be using. I also got the chance to chat with one of the salon’s Stylist Assistants, Sarah, over a little shampoo session. I loved talking Philly favs with each of them and felt super comfortable as a first time visitor to the salon.
My hair color, cut, and style came out faaaaantastic. First and foremost, it matched my lip color, so you know it was a match made in heaven. The color was bold and bright, the cut was just enough to get rid of all the dead stuff but keep things long like I like, and the style was reminiscent of the Lauren Conrad “effortless” look every lady is constantly trying for. I’m tellin ya: go see Becky.
The prices are Crimson are pretty standard for a Center City salon ($55+ for a cut, $65+ for single process color – what I get, $110+ for full highlights). They also have an on-site makeup artist, making it a great spot to get ready for a wedding or big event.
In order to maintain my look (guys: red is kind of the worst to keep up but I CAN’T STOP!), Kevin Murphy and Crimson sent me home with a few color safe products from the line. It’s been two weeks, and when I’m not refusing to wash my hair/keep the color bright for as long as possible, I’ve been trying out these fun little guys.
The HYDRATE-ME.WASH and HYDRATE-ME.RINSE have pretty much been my favs, keeping my hair crazy soft and smelling sweet and refreshing. I’ve also been in love with the POWDER.PUFF for adding texture to my hair, while still allowing me to run my fingers through it. The ANGEL.RINSE is another bestselling gem, and all you need to know is that it smells like a creamsicle. Just necessary. The KM tagline is “skincare for your hair,” and the ingredients the brand uses are pretty fancy. The products retail from $26-$49; definitely on the pricey side, but once you spend $$$ getting your locks done, might as well keep them up, right?
My overall experience was great, from the salon visit to the products. I definitely plan on visiting Crimson again myself, and, if you’re (or your husband/boyfriend/buddy – so many men in there!) on the quest for a new salon (as many of you are), check them out. As we all know by now in the salon/spa space: Yelp reviews usually don’t lie. xx
Disclosure: I was provided hair services and products to take home in exchange for an honest review on my blog. All opinions are my own.
