When I lived in NYC, I spent a lot of time at John Barrett Salon—which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Perched on the top floor of Bergdorf Goodman overlooking Central Park, it always felt like a home away from home thanks to the sublime service and consistently awe-inspiring cut and color results. (And with 70,000 client visits a year, I’m obviously not alone).
I was super-excited to learn that Barrett was opening an outpost in Palm Beach a while back, but I haven’t been able to get up there just yet—and now I don’t have to because there’s a brand spanking new John Barrett Salon literally around the corner at Saks Fifth Avenue in Town Center! I had a chance to sit down with John himself last week to get the scoop on the new salon and his new partnership with Saks, and with 15 locations in the works, let’s just say a lot of ladies are going to be having a lot more good hair days.
The first question on my mind was, Why did it take so long to expand? Barrett’s response was simple: “Nothing ever felt right.” He then began explaining how the salon scene was different when he started out. Back then it was normal for stylists and colorists to keep clients waiting for hours on end—and he was part of the movement toward a more service-oriented experience. As he begins his Saks expansion, he is committed to what he calls JB Cares, and that “It’s not just about the hair, it’s about the care. From the moment a client walks into any of the salons, whoever they interact with will be knowledgeable and polite—and trained to listen to their desires. My staff is also trained to look at the whole picture, which includes the client’s face, their makeup and their clothes so we’re sure that everything works together.”
The retail space at Barrett’s salons certainly helps a client keep their look and their lifestyle cohesive—and enhances the salon experience. From vintage Hermes bracelets and contemporary jewelry to Tom Ford makeup stations, Shu Uemura hair products, handpicked Assouline books and divine signature candles, good luck getting out of there without buying anything.
John Barrett Boca is the first salon to open within a Saks Fifth Avenue store (Miami, Washington and the World Trade Center are among next to roll out). Barrett will be at the Boca and Palm Beach salons three to four days every two weeks for the winter months, but the space will shut down in May 2016 to undergo a complete renovation that will set the aesthetic for the string of salons to come.
Like I said, this is major beauty news for us Boca babes who want high-style hair. Even if you pop in for a blowout, manicure or one of Barrett’s “fast services,” you won’t be disappointed–and I’m sure your first visit won’t be your last!
