Holly James Salon and Spa, Kirkland

When I was in junior high I hired a beautician to apply my makeup for my school's famous ninth grade spring dance. The beautician had recently moved to Seattle from Dallas and declared it her mission to beautify the women of the entire Pacific Northwest, one sweep of her mascara wand at a time. "Y'all are so grungy here," she announced while applying foundation to my cheeks. "Before I moved here I never even heard of a woman going to dinner without lipstick on!" One hour and dozen makeup brushes later, she handed me a mirror. I gasped at my reflection and she smiled. "I worked some magic, didn't I?"

That beautician had indeed worked magic, transforming me from a fresh-faced ingenue to a middle-aged mother of the bride. The makeup was too heavy, too loud, too big, too...Texan! I arrived home in tears and spent the afternoon in front of the bathroom mirror returning my face to normal. The moral? Only visit makeup artists whose faces you would enjoy having as your own.

If this lesson holds true for hair--which I'm sure it does--every woman wanting silky, vibrant, luminous, long locks should transport herself immediately to the Holly James Salon and Spa. All the salon's employees, from owner Holly Bernstrom to the stylists to the esthetician to receptionist have the shiniest, healthiest hair I have ever seen. Is it magic? Is it something in the water? I don't care. I'm taking a leap of faith that Holly will turn my dry, damaged tresses into flowing strands of gold.

The salon itself is casual and comfortable decorated with earth tones and dark wooden armoires. Tucked in back is a full-service spa. If you visit the salon don't pass up on a pedicure from nail tech, Cassandra Bray. She gives a soothing pedicure that will rejuvenate the feet of even the hardest working Cinderella. With real life treatment this good, a girl can finally stop wishing for magic.

Holly James Salon and Spa
368 Parkplace
(425) 576-1650