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Has this seemingly never-ending polar vortex left your pre-wedding hair in need of a little TLC? When I realized my once-upon-a-time shiny hair had declined into a dry, static-y mess, I knew I needed to do something drastic. (Well, not too drastic, but something more than a DIY mask.) My hair needed professional help, and since the Shu Uemura Ceremony scalp treatments at the Rossano Ferretti salon are legendary, I decided to give it a go.
What it's like: First up is the consultation to determine the best treatment for your hair texture. It didn't take long to realize that my fine locks required Muroto Volume, which "adds fullness without weighing down your hair," my stylist, Anna, said. Because this isn't just for your tresses—it's a "de-stressing, relaxing experience"—she took me into my very own room complete with mood lighting. As I sat back, sipping tea, she started brushing my hair vigorously and methodically. (Brushing from scalp to ends twice a day is important, Anna says, because it stimulates your scalp and eliminates build-up. Go figure—my hair actually looked shinier after she brushed it. Apparently that's my first mistake!) Then came the reparative treatment, shampooing and conditioning; each of which takes about 20 minutes because everything is massaged into the scalp using a very specific technique. But I was far from complaining.
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The fine print: Getting pampered like a movie star (or bride-to-be) comes at a price—$100 to be exact—and scheduling a treatment one week before your wedding is ideal. "You want to be sure your hair isn't too soft, especially if you're getting an updo the day of," Anna says. One week before will give your hair one last, healthy push and leave you feeling rejuvenated and ready to go.
Our verdict: Forget about the superficial results, the pampering experience of sipping hot tea in a private room while getting the best scalp massage ever is enough to squelch any bride's wedding jitters. Anything else is icing on the cake! But icing I got, too, because my hair was shiny and voluminous. It just looked...perkier, if that's possible. If you take into account the fact that you're getting a massage and hair treatment all rolled into one relaxing little hour, it's a pre-wedding luxury that's completely worth it. Want to try it out? Go to Shu Uemura to find a salon in your area.