Elle Salon South does more than just hair

HAMBURG — In my life so far I have only ever let two people dye my hair, both of whom were friends going through cosmetology school. Other than that, I have cracked the plastic seal on boxes of hair dye and over and over, have then sat with stinging eyes during the chemical transformation.

My last hair cut (by a professional) was most likely somewhere in the year 2008. Throughout college, my money went toward nightlife fuel and morning bagels; hair cuts became simple (free) self-trims in the bathrooms of my residence halls.

I stepped through the doors of Elle Salon South, located at 195 Lake St. in Hamburg, with a slight anxiety, but genuine excitement.

Greeted with a smile and a cup of tea, I walked onto the main floor where natural light poured through the expansive windows that line the salon's walls. Warm weather is here and finally the sunshine is not an optical illusion.

Elle Salon South is an Aveda™ concept salon, which means that Aveda products are used and sold exclusively from that location. However, this brand is much more than a logo on a plastic bottle; it is a vessel for story-telling and growth.

After a tour of the establishment from owner and Hamburg resident Lisa Pliszka, Faith Reiford, a stylist and manager at the Southtowns location, sat me down in the styling chair and after helping to choose a color, she began telling me about her deeply-rooted passion for what she does, the salon and the brand.

The ingredients of the products inspire visions of exotic places and cultural communion.

In working with Aveda, the Aboriginals from Western Australia now receive fair payment for their sandalwood harvest.

The rose and lavender that is used originate from a hidden field amidst Bulgaria's Balkan Mountains. Organically farmed since 2002, the plants are GMO-free and tended to without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.

In Northeastern Brazil, a group of women who call themselves quebradeiras de coco – or the 'nut-breakers' – harvest and process the babassu nut, which is filled with essential oils that provide conditioning and foaming properties for Aveda's products. In the 1970s, their efforts were threatened by a group who attempted to clear the trees to make way for cattle ranching. After sending they sent away their husbands and sons, the nut-breakers banded together and formed a human chain in an effort to stop the takeover; they succeeded.

After forming a partnership with Aveda in 1996, the babassu women now market a certified organic nut and receive fair revenue for their work.

The Yawanawa tribe, that sits on the edge of Brazil's Amazon rainforest, has a significant connection to color within its culture.

That tribe received freedom from enslavement in 1984, and the group struggled financially, until learning that the pigment they harvest – free of synthetic dyes and frangrance, which is an ideal ingredient in lip color.

Aveda became involved with the Yawanawa people, helping to develop a business model to further themselves both personally and economically.

The Tambopata habitants from the Peruvian Amazon jungle provide casteñeros (Brazilian nuts) for Aveda's products, which helps to sustain the people, the rainforest and provide a healthy, natural ingredient for consumers.

The rose geranium, an indigenous plant of South Africa, is used by Aveda for skin treatment products. Additionally, Aveda's involvement with communities in South Africa help develop the local economies and strengthen farming methods.

It was pleasantly overwhelming to hear such excitement and information from Reiford as she brushed color onto my hair. The feeling was similar to the haze of smells and stories after my first introduction to LUSH®, a line of cruelty-free and freshly made cosmetics.

Positive vibrations reverberate throughout the rooms of the building, from the staff members to the decor. The upper level has areas for massage, manicures and pedicures. With a taste for zen, the room is well-placed and decorated, from the soothing colored walls to the rainbow tinted footbath.

During my pedicure and while waiting for my hair to finish, Liz Valentine, an employee of Elle Salon, gave me product options and explained each. I went with the peppermint and chamomile infused Blue Oil, which left my legs and feet with a relaxing tingle.

I truly relished in the moment of that pedicure. For three weeks prior, my life has been a chaotic whirlwind. Unfortunate circumstances, sadness, loss, new opportunities, moving to a new apartment, insanity, time-crunching, excitement: My life has been crazy, but then again, when is it not?

So for the first time since this spell of nonstop movement began, it was a truly wonderful feeling to just sit and succumb to relaxation and a little pampering.

It only continued on, to my surprise, as Reiford told me scalp massages are included as she rinsed the dye out. Another salon employee gave me a hand massage with a lotion that literally left my hands as soft as silky heaven for the remainder of the day.

I felt my trust was strong enough to say yes when Reiford asked to slightly trim my hair, or as she called it a 'dusting,' with sincere recognition and consideration for a long-haired woman's knack for preservation.

As the hair dried, the red brightened. With a curling wand, my naturally pin-straight hair waved in a Lana Del Rey fashion.

Reiford complimented my thick winged eyeliner, slightly retouched the spots that smudged from the washbasin and added a purple lip color that I absolutely fell in love with.

After taking a look in the mirror, the troubles of my yesterdays dissipated and my confidence grew ten-fold. My hair color was not only the exciting and rich hue that I had always wanted, but it felt better and healthier than my frequented box concoction.

After the relaxation, chatting and sunlight ambiance, I just felt so fresh, re-charged and ready to continue on the daily grind of my everyday work routine.

A true salon experience awaits at Elle Salon South. More than just a cut and color, this place is an oasis.

Elle Salon South is located at 195 Lake St. in Hamburg. For more information, call 649-1800 or visit http://ift.tt/1v91LdR.'Alicia explores the Southtowns' is a personal essay about the columnist's experiences. It not an official endorsement or advertisement on behalf of The Sun.