I was drying my blond locks when I spotted it…a thick brown stripe of hair starting at my part. (Gasp!)

Had it been that long since my last visit to the salon? Apparently it had. My hair was two-tone! It was a beauty emergency and I needed an expert…stat! So I picked up the phone and called 911: Federico Salon in New York City.

This chic salon is the creation of Federico Calce, celebrity hairstylist. Federico’s glamorous work has graced the pages of top fashion magazines like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour and Marie Claire. He’s tousled tresses behind the catwalk at Fashion Week, on a variety of movie sets and television shows and at music festivals. Not to mention he’s handled the hair of starlets like Nicole Kidman, Meg Ryan, Farah Fawcett and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Federico may work with stars, models and even princesses, but from the second I stepped off the elevator and into his fifth floor salon, I felt like his #1 client. Federico and his expert team whisked me away (cappuccino in hand) and explained what they were doing from first foil to finishing touches. We talked about which shade of blond would be most flattering, what type of cut would give me the most shape and texture and how to heal my damaged hair. Each strand was treated with TLC.

As Federico dried my hair, it was like watching an artist at work. The end result?
Pieces were twisted and turned in ways I didn’t think possible. My mane had loads of va-va-volume. I strutted my stuff down the streets of NYC with more confidence than ever. What a feeling.

Want to book some time in the chair at Federico Salon? Call 212-262-3027. And here’s a beauty bonus: Every client gets a free lesson in how to blow dry hair correctly. You can even bring your own tools from home!

If you can’t make it to the Big Apple, here are some handy dandy hair tips from Federico himself:

1.) Stop squeezing every last drop of conditioner out of your hair. You know how great your hair feels after being washed at the salon? That’s how it should feel every time you step out of the shower. If it’s dry and stringy to the touch, you’ve washed the conditioner right out of it. Federico says this is a common mane mistake.

2.) Make sure you keep the nozzle on your hair dryer. This ensures a steady, direct stream of air.

3.) Whatever you do…do not place the hair dryer directly on your locks. Look at the metal at the end of your dryer. That metal is scorching once you turn your dryer on. Now, imagine that hot metal sitting on your hair. We’re burning up just thinking about it.

4.) Be sure to clean the back of your dryer often. That screen can become clogged with stray hair and lint. When that happens the motor inside can overheat. Your hair dryer won’t work to full capacity and will eventually fizzle out. You may even notice a smoky smell.