Dyeing your hair for the first is like learning to do something for the first time. But. But letting go of your natural hair colour is tough. It took me two weeks to decide what I liked and wanted to do to my hair. I was so nervous the day of my consultation and my mom wasn’t exactly helping. She gave me so many tips since she knows more than I about hair treatments and colors. “What do you like? Do you want to cut your hair a little? Are you going to pay for it?” Yes, I am actually.

This experience was better than my first time baking that recipe for chocolate chip muffins.

I cancelled my appointment once and almost backed down when I arrived at Leo’s On Chocolate, but I was already a bit late, I didn’t want to irritate the receptionist or my stylist.

The place is wonderful, there are two yellow, fluffy couches where you can sit and wait for your appointment. The art on their walls, simple but beautiful, I wish I had memorized them. A makeup station in one of the corners, ready to be used. And shelves displaying different brands of products.

I arrived at the place almost running, and Steven (my stylist) was waiting for me near the reception desk. I felt so ashamed to be late, but his warm smile told me that it was fine. I followed him to the other side of the building where the beauty chairs are. He told me about what we were going to do my hair and also added, “we might not have time for the blue.” I had almost forgotten that my step dad joked about dying part of my hair blue.

Steven treated my hair as if it were the most fragile thing on Earth, he took his time and explained what he was doing, since my curiosity got the best of me. We chatted about music, celebrities, our personal lives and so many different topics. He made me feel less nervous and offered me my favorite drink, coffee. He told me about his years of experience and how in love he was with beauty change. “I love what I do, this is not a job. It feels right to do this.”

After that, we made our way to wash the creams and chemicals off my hair. Again, he was so gentle with my hair and made sure I was comfortable. This man definitely knows what he is doing. We continued chatting and told me more about his passion for fashion, how he is always looking for inspiration and change.

When it was time to cut my hair, I started to worry. I have had bad experiences cutting my hair in the beauty salons back where I used to live. Maybe it was because my dad told the stylist to cut my hair differently and shorter. But Steven did an amazing job, he cut the perfect amount and suggested different hair styles. As if he read my mind, the curled my hair after drying it.

My mom arrived later and saw Steven on the job. He mentioned that he remembered doing her hair a few years ago, I was surprised that he remembered. Our chat extended for a few more minutes and then he finished. The results were beyond anything I could have imagined. Steven was clearly a professional and extremely talented. My light brown ash hair was fairly replaced by a golden balayage. It wasn’t only the first time I’ve dyed my hair, it was the first time I allowed someone to cut my hair to their taste, without cringing

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And days later I am still amazed by the work of art done to my hair. I am happy, I feel pretty, and I know multiple ways to treat my hair (thanks to some tips from Steven). If you are a Hershey local and looking to do something new to your hair, why not give it a try at Leo’s On Chocolate?