If Primrose Organics is any indication, it really is easy to be green. This inviting, eco-friendly salon sits pretty on Hollywood Boulevard in the heart of Los Feliz, offering not only hair services but also nails, waxing, skin care, and even headshots! (Hey, this is LA—not only are the citizens all multi-hyphenates, but so are the businesses.) And no doubt about it: once you leave Primrose Organics, you'll be ready for your close-up.
I arrive on a Friday in dire need of a cut, color, and mani, and with full knowledge that owner Felicia Howe can deliver the goods. After all, I've been using her for color ever since her days at Purple Circle, and she's also known for her days as a stylist on the music circuit with clients like Green Day, Keane, and Fall Out Boy. In April 2009, she opened Primrose Organics in hopes of bringing an eco-friendly salon to the east side of Los Angeles, as she says that the city's few green salons are mostly west of the 405. "We're trying to start a revolution over here," she shares.
At first glance, they appear to have gotten a good start—the salon's cutely painted confines are filled with antique shelves housing organic lines like Priti, John Masters, and Hamadi Organics. But it's not just the products that are eco-friendly—the paint on the walls is low-VOC, and everything from the furniture to the highlight foils is recycled. As for the walls, they're dotted with artwork by local artists. It's all part of thinking global, acting local: "This salon is a good example of what you can do when you don't have a million dollars to green your space," says Melissa Tornay, Howe's co-owner and friend of five years.
My first appointment is the "Eco-Manicure," a simple, scaled-down mani service that uses products free of toluene, dibutyl phthalate, and formaldehyde. (I have no idea what the first two are, but apparently I should steer clear of them!) My nail technician, Sara Gasparatto, is somewhat of a multi-hyphenate herself, as she also does hair and makeup—and, in her spare time, makes the cute recycled journals that are also on sale at the salon. I decide to go for a French, as I'm going to a wedding up in Napa the following weekend and need to keep it classy. The mani ends up looking great, and my only complaint is that they don't offer pedis! (They do, however, offer some packages—namely a mini-facial, mini-mani, and scalp treatment for $55, and a hairstyle/makeup session/mani for $55.)
Next it's time for the highlight and cut with Felicia, who, as always, leaves my locks looking fabulous in all their caramel- and auburn-highlighted glory. She also hooks me up with several samples so I can try some of the organic products; since I'm a big fan of Moroccan Oil, she suggests Hamadi Healing Serum as it's somewhat similar, and also gives me some gels capable of taming my wayward curls. I'm excited to go back to Primrose Organics sometime soon, either for more beauty services or just to check out the social scene, as they'll soon be introducing mixers, craft nights, and art shows along with the standard salon fare. And that's a beautiful thing!
For more info: Primrose Organics, 4616 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, 323-664-5446
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