As a woman, one of the services that I like to procure when living in a new area is that of a beauty salon. Whether hair is curly or straight; whether you want a wash, relaxer, treatment or weave; whether you go to the salon often or it is a rare treat, just knowing that you have somewhere to go when you have the need is a relief. I sport a natural hairstyle but for years, while overseas, I would go to the salon and have a full-head weave done to protect my hair from harsh, dry, wintry elements this time of year. Although Barbados is warm and humid, I have found that my hair flourishes when I allow it to rest for a couple of months, so I started to ask around and research a beauty salon that would fit my needs.
After scouring the internet, making some calls, and having numerous conversations with different women, I settled on ‘Diva the Salon’ in Bridgetown. When some salon owners/employees at other establishments answered their telephones, I got a ‘hello’ or even a ‘Yeah?’ which made me have to ask for confirmation about where I had called. Either the owner of Diva, Andrea, enforced customer service training to her staff, or they are just naturally polite, but your first impression when calling is that you are calling a business. One is greeted with a good morning or good afternoon, and the business is identified.
Diva has an attractive appearance as well. It is located a few doors down from the Waterfront Café with a relaxing, scenic view of the Careenage and Bridgetown. Its entrance is graced with striking red doors and the inside has a fine utilisation of space which is comfortable and aesthetically pleasing with its sophisticated hues of red, white and black. The air-conditioned comfort does not hurt either.
The good customer service does not start and end at telephone etiquette. It is clear that Andrea knows that good treatment and connecting with clientele will bring repeat business. All staff members were polite and professional during my first visit. During my second, I was made to feel as if this was my salon for years, enjoying good conversation with receptionist, Kelly, and beautician Pet. No one would have believed that they had only interacted with me once before. A salon is a respite from the daily grind. It is always a bonus when a salon does not only do good hair, but also has a good atmosphere.
Now that you can envision the setting, let us get to the important part, the hair. I can say definitively, that Andrea gave me one of the best full-head weaves I have had in a long time. The cornrows were plaited neatly, the tracks were well-applied, and my hair was cut in the style I desired, which framed my features well. This is one month in and I have not had one loose track. I should also note that where some stylists apply glue to the closure, which can be damaging to the hair, Andrea sews in her closure, which is healthier.
I do not believe that you can truly know a place from one visit, although first impressions are important. For my second visit, Pet, Andrea’s right hand, washed and styled my hair. She was very thorough, using a brush to scrub the scalp under the weave. She also ensured that my hair was completely dry underneath through hood-drying before blow-drying the weave itself.
I like Diva the Salon, but it has its imperfections. Andrea is the only “weaveologist” so attention can be divided between others clients and you. In my case, it meant that I spent over six hours there during my first visit. To be fair, I also had an oil treatment done. My second visit was not as lengthy, but still took 5 hours. In this case, my genetics was the issue, since my thick hair underneath my weave seemed to take forever to dry. Secondly, the salon is not cheap, although not the most expensive. You do have to pay a little more than some other salons, but the ambience, air-conditioning, and the excellence of the weave is well worth it.
To get an idea of the skills of Andrea and her staff, you may visit their Facebook page. They also offer manicure and pedicure services. I give Diva the Salon four out of five Barbados flags for its service, ambience, skill and my overall satisfaction.
BAJAN MOM 