Maplewood Beauty Bar

Maplewood Beauty Bar Salon Website | Instagram

My local insta-blogger friend Jennie has a bestie who owns a salon. (Did you follow all that?) I've gotten a chance to meet Jennie in real life a couple of times, and she is the cutest! And sweetest! Her friend Amanda just opened her own salon on June 1st! She invited me to come visit for a complimentary blow out! Let's see... it was my birthday week, I had a 4 day weekend, and I've never had a blow out before, so yes, yes, and more yes!

The salon is called The Maplewood Beauty Bar. Although she just opened for business in June, she's got a pretty good client list built up because she's been doing hair for over 14 years. She used to work in a space right across the street from this location, but didn't mind giving up the storefront presence for a more tucked away entry since parking is way more convenient here. It's a little gem of a salon. I loved that she described it as a boutique-style salon because that's definitely how it feels! Quaint, adorable, and welcoming.

The space was previously used as offices for what she suspected was a small real estate company. Amanda and her husband tore a wall or two down, built a wall or two back up, and created the space you see today. It's just her and one other person who also does hair as well as manicures. There's a small room for custom airbrush tans - can you believe she used to do the tans out of her house?! Refreshing to have the proper space for it here.

Like I said, she has a great list of loyal clients and one thing that has kept her busy are weddings! This would be the most adorable place for you and your bridesmaids to hang out, have some mimosas and visit together as you get ready for your big day. The room she works in has full length windows so you could easily interact with your girls while you're getting your hair done as they lounge in the sitting area. You would literally have the whole place to yourself. How fun is that?

Now let's talk about my blow out! I really didn't know what to expect. I wasn't even sure if I should come with my hair washed, or if she would wash my hair for me? Turns out, it was basically like the same cut and style I get at my own salon, just without the cutting part! Duh, makes total sense. I love that the awesome just-out-of-the-salon feeling can be felt in between cuts and as often as you like! Plus, if you're like me and only wash your hair once every 4-5 days, that salon hair can go a long way! I certainly love getting my nails done, but I've never thought to have someone wash and style my hair for non-updo purposes. That's kind of genius. Did I mention I drank wine while she did all this?

Redken Iron Shape 11 Thermal Spray | Powder Play | Redken Pillow Proof

One thing that I know I don't do enough of is prep and prime my hair with products before I blow dry them. I'm going to have to buy some of that Redken Pillow Proof blow dry primer and the Powder Play  I had never seen or used Powder Play before. Amanda used it on my hair Friday for my blowout and the very next day as I was getting my hair done for the wedding, that stylist used the same Power Play again! I do believe that's a sign.

Necklace: Kendra Scott "Phara" (gifted) | Top: Express | Shorts: One Teaspoon (similar) | Sandals: Sam Edelman "Sutton"

I already shared the front view finished photo at the start of this post, but you guys know that I can't not share my entire outfit with you! I had gotten my mani pedi before coming here and also had to run last minute wedding errands. I was all about the comfort today obviously.

She was able to curl through my hair pretty quickly! She used this Beachwaver (non-pro version here). What I loved about it is that it's very similar to a curling wand except it has a little lever at the base that holds your ends in place. Not to mention that you don't have to twirl your wrist, just press a button and the wand spins on its own like a wine bottle opener to wrap itself with your hair. She sells these out of her salon as well, soooo I might need one.

I've mentioned before that I love that blogging introduces me to new things and local businesses I would have never otherwise been able to experience. If you're local to St. Louis, I hope you'll schedule something with Amanda at The Maplewood Beauty Bar so you can see why I easily fell in love with this little piece of heaven!

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