Luxe for Less

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Would you believe I got a $250 haircut today? Well, considering I live in New York, you might. And you'd be right. But...would you believe I only paid $40?? The beauty of Groupon, my friends.

There is something so relaxing and revitalizing about getting your hair done, whether it's just a trim or a full color process. That head massage you get when they shampoo your hair? Complete nirvana. At least for me.

It has been 6 months since my last hair appointment...which, if you read the fashion magazines, is about three times longer than the average woman should wait between salon visits. Oh well, I've been busy, and knowing I was moving back to the city, I figured I'd wait and splurge when I got here.

Boy, was it worth it!

The salon is called Federico. Kind of sounds like the name of a celebrity stylist, which, based on the level of customer service and the end result, it probably is. I went to the location on 58th Street and 6th Avenue, literally a block away from Central Park and the Plaza. Again, all signs point to $$$.

I was greeted on the second floor of the building by a sleek woman standing behind a sleek white reception desk who led me to the coat room and gave me a soft-as-silk smock to wear over my work clothes. Then she took me to the swivel chair where I met my stylist, Kitty.

Kitty is originally from South Carolina, so I knew I'd love her. And then she started calling me "sunshine" and "sweetheart." A little piece of the South right in Midtown Manhattan.

Getting your hair done--or your nails done or a facial or a massage or whatever--is unlike anything you've ever experienced. It's just...superior. I don't mean to say that there aren't outstanding salons in other cities. Trust me, I've found places everywhere I've lived that I have absolutely loved, including Roanoke and Winston-Salem. But in New York, the expectations are higher, and considering what they charge, they know they can't half-ass (excuse my language) the service.

Needless to say, my appointment at Federico on West 58th Street was one of the best hair appointments I've ever had. I love the result; I loved the stylist; I loved the vibe in the salon; even the makeup artist came over and chatted with me and told me about the movie premiere he was heading to--The Boss, starring Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Bell...I almost begged him to take me as his plus-one). That is the level of quality you get at some of these New York salons--red carpet quality.

I will probably never step foot inside the Federico salon again, unless another Groupon comes along. But it just goes to show you that you can enjoy the city without draining your bank account. And that is one of my goals this time around: take advantage of every opportunity without going completely broke in the process.