Salon Bordeaux and Wellness Center

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A beauty salon is much like a winery; both have many colors and styles to chose from, and visitors leave feeling more relaxed, refreshed, and a little better about themselves. This might be why Jessica Hunter chose to go with a wine theme for her Normal Heights hair salon, Salon Bordeaux and Wellness Center, near North Park.

When you enter Salon Bordeaux, the friendly receptionist will ask if you would like something to drink - including wine, of course. This is the first element of pampering the San Diego salon promises its clients.

"I like to say we're customer service obsessed," says Jessica. "Any article you read about the beauty industry says it has exploded in the last few years.

"Nowadays, customers are very salon savvy and know they can go to a lot of high-end salons for a nice cut. But it's the extra stuff Salon Bordeaux offers clients from the second they walk in the door that brings them here."

Shades of burgundy and jewel tones paint the long curtains and warm-toned walls of the classy San Diego salon and spa. The décor blends the old with the new. Display cases with vintage beauty products like a pink electric roller curler and hair tonic sit next to high-tech infrared rotating hair dryers and LCD screens playing runway shows. Vintage ads in frames decorate the walls and full-length mirrors sit in front of every styling chair.

"My goal was to create a place that's high-end but relaxing and homey at the same time," Jessica says.

Jessica originally worked in a salon in the Gaslamp District, but decided (over a glass of wine or two) that with her successful clientele and creative ideas, it was time to open her own salon in San Diego. Together, with her entrepreneur husband, David Hunter, they open Salon Bordeaux in November of 2005.

Hairstylist Tammy Gross has been at Salon Bordeaux from the start. She received her license and Santa Barbara and studied hair styling and color techniques in London for three months before moving to San Diego.

Tammy begins every appointment with an in-depth consultation with her clients about their cut and color. She's an expert when it comes to hair trends.

"Bangs are big right now, everyone wants side-swoop bangs and big hair is definitely coming back," she says.

According to Tammy, hair color is now a seasonal thing. As fall approaches, her clients fade away from blondes and want more reds and browns weaved into their ‘dos. To aid her clients in expert recreation, she adds texture and volume to cuts with a technique called "volumetrix".

"When I do a client's hair, I ask they how they would like it styled," Tammy says. "But I also get in-depth and show them how to achieve the look when they get home."

Salon Bordeaux also offers its clients styling classes such as Blow Dry Boot Camp, a three-part demonstration to offer participants a hands-on styling experience to re-create rock style hair. The next class is Sunday, September 30 from 2 to 5 p.m. Tickets cost $35, with a $25 retail credit towards hair products such as those by Pureology and Bumble and Bumble, and can be purchased in advance at the salon.

In addition to hair services, Salon Bordeaux offers other "Me Time" services such as massages, waxing and facials. Because acne can be more than just a face problem, the salon offers the Back Facial to cleanse and exfoliate the back for 60 minutes for $80. The Road to Recovery Facial treats sun-damaged skin with vitamin C to lift and tighten the skin. Boys, don't be shy; Salon Bordeaux offers facials for you too like the Man! Oh Man! and the more bold facial, Metro Man.

Handbag-obsessed gals will also find the unique Simply a. Handbags made from a smattering of men's neckties with bamboo handles a shopping bonus.