Getting Coiffed in Style
Rating: 4/4 Flags
Wending down Pape, in the ever more Queer-Positive portion of the city known as the Danforth, I was delighted to find François Coiffure & Spa, a Queer-Positive hair salon that made me feel luxurious just standing in the waiting area while I booked my appointment. I relaxed in the burgundy, high-backed leather chairs, sipped some tea, and had cookie from Athena’s, the Queer-Friendly bakery next door. The warm patch of sun was welcome and inviting on a bright but chilly spring day, and the whole salon seemed to glow with a proud luster. Brian, François’s charming partner, and I passed the time chatting, and it became clear that this was not just a place to get your hair cut; this was a place with a touch of elegance that made it worthy of the name “Coiffure.”
The interior burgundy walls are set off by large gilded-framed portraits, the most prominent of which is Marie Antoinette. The salon has a very generous space for hairstyling as well as a spa at the back for waxing, esthetics, facials, and other body treatments. François also offers Spa Day packages: the Morning or Afternoon Delight caught my eye, with a one-hour facial, manicure, and pedicure for only $115.00. Looking up and down at the exposed brick walls and the beautiful antique furniture, and listening to the wall fountain trickling, I knew it would not be a chore to spend some time here. The relaxing, luxurious atmosphere made it easy to feel like I was really taking time for myself. And yet, for those with a little less hair, or the desire for a little less hair, François’s also offers a basic buzz cut for $20.
My stylist, Tracy, was friendly and delighted to suggest some ideas after I gave her a basic guideline. Tracy thoroughly explained the structure of the haircut she was planning for me, and I anxiously waited to see the finished product. She suggested a copper rinse that would be maintainable and wash out in six weeks. We were conversational but not overly chatty, and I relaxed as she used the razor to sculpt some much needed dimension into my painfully straight, queer head of hair.
Since I am blind as the proverbial bat, the style was kept secret from me until the final moment. As I popped on my glasses, it was love at first sight. The colour she had suggested was extraordinarily suiting to my complexion, and she had styled it in a very simple yet elegant, feminine way, with a soft bang swept across the forehead. The shape of the style from every angle was excellent, and I knew right then I would be back in six weeks to maintain it.
As I walked out of the salon, feeling sexy and generally excited about life, I popped their business card into my wallet. As I did so, I read the words emblazoned across the front: “You Are So Beautiful.” It struck me that the card reads the same way walking into the salon as walking out, and therefore seems like a truly sincere, giving statement. Acknowledging the quality of beauty, in ourselves and other people, is something I believe we all need to do much more of. That said, we all also need a little help seeing that beauty in the mirror sometimes, and François Coiffure & Spa is an excellent place to start.
What: François Coiffure & Spa
Where: 676 Pape Avenue (Just south of Danforth)
Phone: 416.469.HAIR (4247)
TTC: Take subway to Pape station. Go to south side of Danforth and the salon is on the west side.
Parking: Metered parking along Danforth and P parking at Pape Station.
Hours of Operation: Mon-Wed 10am-7pm, Thur - Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun12pm-5pm.
Website: www.francoiscoiffureandspa.com
Why: Relaxing atmosphere, skilled stylists, good prices, and a truly wonderful experience.