44 Nights in Paris: Jimmy

Eventually it’s going to come out in my stories that I am very fussy about my hair. I am very humbly blessed with thick, healthy, wavy long hair and admittedly, I work it.

Years ago, I discovered what an incredibly joyful experience a foreign hair appointment is. Since then, when I travel (just like generally when I am not traveling), someone else does my hair.

This can be tricky business when foreign stylists speak limited English and, I am here to report that I have never, ever, had less than a fantastic experience in a foreign salon.

The first time I needed a color appointment in Paris, I took Lydie with me to set it up. I had had a great blowout appointment with the wonderful Selma at a great green salon, BioBela, which was easy walking distance from my apartment. I wanted to return because I really liked the salon. The day Lydie and I arrived to make my next appointment, we met Jimmy.

Jimmy. Another Parisian angel in my experience! He speaks excellent English, and is the manager of the salon. I’ll do your color, he offered kindly. We made the appointment for which I returned so happy, knowing I was in excellent hands.

He explained to me how all of their products are green and plant-based. He gently suggested that the dryness in my scalp and hair would be taken care of with his treatment, and that I was going to love how I felt with these products. He was right.

We continued to discuss how French hair, beauty, cosmetic, and generally all products are not chemically laden like American products are. I was falling more and more in love with the idea of having a French stylist for the rest of my life. At the end of my fabulous color appointment, I booked a blowout for the following week, and each week after that. Before I returned to LA at the end of my trip weeks later, I booked a final color appointment with him.

Not only did these appointments cost a fraction of what I pay in California, my hair and scalp have never been so happy. Part of that may in fact be the products and treatment, the other part would be the joy of being Jimmy’s client!

I loved that one day he told me I have so much fun when you’re here! Our entire appointments are full of happy chatter and interesting conversation. He has lived in various points around the world and has a passion for Korea and things Korean. Like me, he has children in his life but none of his own; we’ve compared many notes about this! I especially love learning more about things that are very French from his life experience and perspective.

He is the one that is so much fun to be with. We’ve exchanged WhatsApp contact info. I sincerely promised him that when I next return to Paris, an appointment with him will be cast in stone in my itinerary.

My hair – and I – would be lost without our fabulous Parisian stylist.