My hair has been boring for a long time. Once I started getting highlights in 5th grade (yes, 5th, thanks Momma!), I was hooked. But when college graduation struck and I was cut off a la Hannah Horvath, expensive highlights had to take a back seat to things like groceries and a couch. Until one week ago, I was growing in my natural color, and my locks had taken on a little bit of a jacked up ombre look as I let this loooong process happen.

The hair gods must have heard my pleas for a much needed new fall style when I was offered a complimentary cut & color at Northern Liberties’ Signatures Du Mei (112 West Girard Avenue) in honor of HopeCuts 2013. HopeCuts is one of the country’s largest beauty industry fundraisers and raises money for City of Hope, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center that provides treatment and performs research for cancer, HIV/AIDS and diabetes.

I visited stylist & owner Mary M. Chan and her team at their NoLibs salon last week. For those of you unfamiliar with the area, it is only a few blocks from The Piazza and had lots of street parking available when I visited at 6:15 pm. 

Signatures Du Mei has open in Philly for four years and has won “Best of Philadelphia for Hair Color” three years in a row. They have even been featured in Glamour Mag! I love a business that is flexible for women with busy schedules – Signatures Du Mei will take appointments as early as 6:30 am & as late as 7:30 pm. Amazing.

After thinking long & hard about how to update my hair, I decided on the best fall shade I could think of: RED. Before my appointment started, I sat down for a consultation with Mary. I had brought in a few photos of some ginger beauties to share with her, and Mary was awesome at talking me through what upkeep & maintenance of bright red locks would be. We decided on a coppery shade and Mary was off to mix my color.

The shampoo and conditioner line used at the salon is called Pureology, which smelled AMAZING. The products are great for color treated hair.

Signatures Du Mei offers complimentary wine while you’re visiting the salon. Between washes & the hair color application, I sipped on some white wine & yes, paged through what happened to be a bridal magazine. No one freak out now.

Han is the salon’s Junior Stylist and we had a great time chatting about local Philly spots while she applied my color and washed my hair. I definitely had an OMG moment when I checked out my color for the first time. After my hair was dry, Mary gave me an awesome layered cut that would be easy for me to maintain and style myself.

And here is the final product! Mary & Han did an amazing job. My hair feels healthier & shinier, and I was so pleased with all of the attention Signatures Du Mei placed on making what I wanted work best for me.

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Ready to hear more about #HopeCuts13? On Sunday, September 15th, Signatures Du Mei & over 100 salons in the Mid-Atlantic region will donate their time, services and 100% of their daily proceeds (hello!? Amazing!) to HopeCuts. Who doesn’t love getting their locks updated for a great cause? Philly has has eleven participating salons and each is offering their own service, so be sure to call & see what your salon of choice is offering that day.

• Elegant Studio (North Broad Street)
• Headhunters Hair Design (East Passyunk)
• LA Hair Design (East Passyunk)
• Luna Salon (Old City) Note: Event is September 16
• Salon Royale Court (Center City)
• Salon on 4^th (Old City)
• Salon Tenshi (Northern Liberties)
• Signatures Du Mei (Northern Liberties)
• Toppers Spa/Salon (Rittenhouse)
• Tundella & Co. (Old City)

In addition to doing haircuts from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, Signatures Du Mei will be raffling off this amazing haircare basket. I got to take a peek inside and let me tell you – it’s a good one.

I hope you’ll check out Signatures Du Mei & the rest of the Philly HopeCuts salons for this year’s fundraiser. If you do, post your new look on the Her Philly Facebook page, I’d love to see it! xx