When I entered Gallo Hair, I was greeted with a warm smile from Kam (aka Mr Hair Extraordinaire). Things were off to a good start: one, I had just found free on-street parking right outside; and two, I was inside a trendy downtown salon and felt welcome.
My first impressions.
This salon bucks stereotypes, and I like it. A lot.
As I was guided to my seat, the first thing that struck me was the slick interior and friendly vibe.
The salon was abuzz: hair dryers humming, color consultations under way, and customers smiling and laughing. The staff were busy, but the atmosphere didn’t feel hectic and out of control.
After I was seated, I was promptly delivered a peppermint tea and a chocolate-dipped, heart-shaped cookie coated in sprinkles. At this point, the stresses of my day were already slowly starting to ebb away. I sat back, watched and absorbed.
The most obvious thing to me was the conduct of the staff. They were interactive, professional and pleasant, and not in any way pretentious. If these hairdressers have egos, they definitely wear them on the inside. It was very apparent from my observations that they have a genuine interest in their clients. I was impressed.
