Everything Glendale

Filed Under: Bella Donna Beauty and Wellness Center, Hair Salons, Shop Reviews

I have become vain. I'm not exactly sure when it happened, but I have a good idea as to why it happened.

I've always considered myself an average-looking person. Cute, but not beautiful. I have healthy self-esteem, but I'm realistic when it comes to my looks. In fact, when my daughters turned into beautiful young women, my husband and I looked at each other, scratched our heads and asked ourselves, how did we do that?

Sometimes I look at old pictures of myself in my 20s and think, Wow, I really was a lot cuter than I gave myself credit for.

But this vanity thing is new. Complete strangers come up to me these days and compliment me on my hair, and I accept it as my due. I agree: I just love my hair. If I'm feeling really generous, I may mention my hairdresser and my mother. Because they're the real reason people love my hair: a good cut and genetics.

My whole life hairdressers have always said I have good hair. It's thick and shiny and straight. Pretty boring to me. Until I realized that I have very few gray hairs compared to other people. Hmm. Maybe I'm on to something.

For years, my hairdresser (Thu, pictured above) tried to get me to use a blow-dryer. I'd see her in the market, and she'd say, "Please, oh please, use the blow-dryer. Maybe just a little bit. You'll look great. You'll see."

But no. I was stubborn. Who needs blow-dryer when you can walk out of the house in ten minutes with wet hair?

So when I finally decided to use the blow-dryer, it made her so happy. And when a few months later I decided to add some streaks, she almost cried with joy.

Now my hair is short and hip, with colored streaks. Some months these are bright red; right now they're green, and I'm working toward pink. But since I am now vain, I make sure that people can see a few gray hairs here and there, so they know that I don't add color to hide the gray.

My hairdresser is fantastic. She is a modern artiste with vision. She sees potential even in a rabid feminist who proudly eschews traditional female trappings. She'll tell you what's going to look good on you and what will look like crap. Go and see her; she'll be happy to work a miracle for you, too.

Thu Tran
Bella Donna Beauty & Wellness Center
1154 N. Central Avenue
Glendale, CA 91202
323.369.3710 (Thu's direct line)

Base Price for Men:
$20

Base Price for Women:
$25

Hours:
Tuesday-Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
By appointment only