I rarely have enough foresight to book a hair cut in advance, and recently I found myself desperately looking for a same-day appointment. This is the context in which I discovered Jesamondo in Natick. After calling several other places, I found Jesamondo's online booking tool (bonus: I avoided talking to a human!).

Upon arrival I was immediately treated to a huge glass of refreshingly cold mimosa and all my stress melted away. An hour later, I left the salon slightly poorer, but with a great haircut and in a wonderful mood.

I’ve been back to Jesamondo twice since then: once for a Mom’s Night Out generously hosted in the salon’s cool relaxation area, and, more recently, for a manicure/pedicure gift to myself. I took photos and asked a bunch of questions about the salon. Scroll down if you are curious about what the word “Jesamondo” means, what kind of services you can get and how much they cost, and some other trivia about the salon.

Jesamondo has been in business for almost 4 decades, having first opened in Linden Square in Wellesley and then moved to Natick in early 2000’s. Most employees have been with the salon for 10 to 30 years. According to the owner, Matt Traiger, the secret behind such loyalty are a good health plan, generous vacation, profit-sharing, and retirement benefits, and better commissions than one finds in most other salons in the area.

The original owner of the salon was, in the words of one of the long-term employees, “a very charismatic and good looking Italian man, Jesse Gesimondo’’ (hence the name of the salon). When Jesse retired in 2014, he called Matt, who at the time did SPA work for Jesamondo and asked if he’d take over the business. Matt didn’t have to think long: he hated accounting work and knew Jesamondo was a great local business. Matt has continued fostering “the great culture and taking care of everyone who works here”.

​Jesamondo has 20 stylists, 3 nail technicians, 3 makeup stylists, 3 estheticians, a spray tanner, 2 massage therapists, and a Reiki master, who, as Matt will enthusiastically tell you, has performed several miracles modern medicine can’t explain.

A "Titanium Level" partnership with Goldwell (a luxury hair care brand) is another point of pride for Matt, as only 30 salons in the US have it. This allows Jesamondo to stay at the cutting edge (pun intended) of the most recent hair trends, as Goldwell offers unlimited education opportunities to the staff.

Jesamondo is very active in the community: they sponsor St. Jude's Runway to Miracles, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Jewish Big Brother Big Sister, various local fundraisers that benefit Natick and Wellesley schools,  and many other causes.

Pricing:
Designer cut & finish for women - prices start at $54
Children cut & finish (under 10 yrs) start at $38
Men's haircuts start at $40 

I recently attended the launch party at La Crème Salon, the latest small business to open its doors in Natick Center. Despite looking quite out of place in my flip-flops and sand-filled hair (I had just driven back from the Cape), I could not resist taking a peak at this beautiful space and meeting the owner and the staff.

La Crème is bright and sleek, boasting Manhattan-inspired modern interior with off-white furniture and wood accents. Its modern simplicity and elegant details create a zen-like aura from the moment you walk in, inviting you to decompress from a busy day. With a comfortable waiting area and just four stations, La Crème creates an intimate feel where each client is sure to receive lots of attention.

The owner, Hollie Luber, already has a very successful salon in Acton, but always dreamt of opening something close to home. “I love that Natick is community driven, has great schools and is so close to Boston!" she says. “We have so many amenities here and lots of potential that I see taking shape already. Natick is an up-and-coming town at the cusp of a big turning point, which is very exciting!”

A Natick mom of 4, Hollie is a stunning woman and a savvy entrepreneur. I asked her to describe what she pays the most attention to in running her business.  “The ship has to run smoothly” she says, “and in order to do that the entire salon has to operate as a team no matter who owns it. Treating each client like they are new client every time is my motto. And knowing that the industry is constantly changing, so we keep a step ahead”.

Among Hollie's biggest supporters is her husband, Jeff Luber. "He is amazing!' she says. "Jeff is my biggest cheerleader and always encourages me to take the leap. He is a leader himself and I trust and value his judgment and opinion." Jeff is the CEO of a Boston-based biotech, Atlas Genetics.

I asked Hollie how she manages to look so great, running two businesses and raising kids. “Being in my industry, it is imperative to look the part, having hair, make-up, and fashion on point. Over time this becomes routine and makes you feel so much better when you’ve got a little make up on and your hair is done. I always tell clients not to leave the house without a little bronzer, mascara and lip color. You’ll notice how you feel more confident doing so. It takes maybe 5 minutes, and yes everybody has 5 minutes. Us as moms have so many jobs, so it’s important to take aside time for us to appreciate ourselves”.

La Crème is a guilty pleasure! Haircuts start at $54; root to end color is $90+.
​​Products include Harper + Ari body scrubs, Tatine Co. candles, Sunday Forever perfume and candles, and an organic selection of jewelry.

Enjoyed your experience at La Crème or have a comment to share about this blog post? Leave me a comment below!