Zuzu demos how to drink hot chocolate with wet nails.
Raise your hand if you are a mom who has ever hired a babysitter so that you could get a mani-pedi or a bikini wax or, dear Lord, just get your highlights done. I seriously don’t know any mom who hasn’t done this at some point. Okay, I’m sure that there are some moms out there who don’t color their hair or get their nails done, but, frankly, none of them live in my town. The hair color thing especially seems to be nearly universal. If you don’t color your hair at all, I dare you to leave a comment to this post. I will take you to Starbucks and we can discuss whether your natural hair color is really cutting it any more.
I will confess right now that I do my own highlights. You can’t really tell on hair as curly as mine anyway. But I absolutely won’t do my own nails. I love getting my nails done. It’s a little thing that makes me feel polished and chic and it costs a lot less than a new pair of boots. (Speaking of new boots, I am looking for a pair of stacked heel boots in like a tan or light brown. Hit me up with some recommendations. And don’t mind my husband quietly weeping in the background.) Zuzu also loves getting her nails done and I am afraid that I have created an eight year old manicure junkie. I remember one time last summer when Zuzu and I were getting pedicures together, some sweet old lady said to Zuzu, “Is this your first time getting your nails done?” And Zuzu replied with withering contempt, “No. I come here all the time.” I was so proud.
Anyway, all this is to say that finally there is a salon in Chicago that has nails, waxing, hair and — wait for it — child care. Yes, you read that right: child care. At Urban Mom Salon in Bucktown — so near where we used to live before we had JR and moved west of the Loop — moms can get all their favorite salon services while their kids play next door in a beautiful play room supervised by professional nannies. No wonder Daily Candy called it a dream come true. (And before someone starts lecturing me about kids inhaling all that formaldehyde, please note that the kids’ play area is separately ventilated. Also, I love the smell of formaldehyde in the morning.)
Urban Mom Salon is the brainchild of two Chicago-area moms who happen to be sisters. They have thought of absolutely everything that busy moms need. The salon is pleasant and relaxing. They offer a full range of nail, hair and waxing services. There are plenty of celebrity gossip magazines to peruse while your toes dry. (Reading a celebrity gossip magazine at the nail salon is an integral part of the experience.) As for the child care room, it has a train table, a play kitchen, a tent and all the favorite little kid toys. And for big kids? A Wii. The play room is supervised by sitters from Chicago Nannies and the fee is a flat rate of $7 for the first kid, $4 for an additional kid. So go ahead and get those highlights done, ladies. You can stay all day.
Zuzu and I had a chance to check out Urban Mom Salon this past weekend. I had a Signature Manicure while Zuzu played “Just Dance” on the Wii in the play room. (While I do take Zuzu to the nail salon, we don’t have a Wii at home, putting her firmly in the category of the Deeply Underprivileged by her standards.) Then Zuzu got a mini-manicure (for kids ten and under) while my nails dried and I chatted with Valerie, one of the owners, about the business and her upcoming family expansion. In all, Zuzu and I agreed that Urban Mom Salon is awesome, leaving me with only one additional comment:
When are they opening an Oak Park branch?
Full disclosure time: Zuzu and I received complimentary manicures at Urban Mom Salon. I was not asked to write about the salon and all opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
Just because you called this out– I have never colored my hair in any way. I have saved a lot of money and avoided a lot of chemicals that way too. Please do take me to lunch, any time.
While I would happily take you to lunch, I can say with confidence that your natural hair color is just fine. You have such nice glossy dark hair — I wouldn’t color it either. Until it started to go grey, that is.
Oh I would love this! I am away on a trip in Germany in gorgeous weather and I did not pack one pair of open toed shoes because I had no opportunity to get a pedicure before leaving. I would take Sarah with me if it was just her, but although I would have no qualms about subjecting my son to a pedi (he would probably like it), he would not be able to behave during the time he has to wait for mine to finish.
Yes, the young boys are the real barrier to getting one’s nails done.
So, now Urban Mom Salon needs to open a Boston branch. Or this is your million dollar idea!
I color my own hair as well and I couldn’t even tell you what my natural color is anymore. Where was this place when my kids were little and I would have given my left arm to get a spiral perm without having to arrange for a babysitter.
I know, right? It’s such a brilliant idea.
I love this concept. LOVE it, but would not use it to get my hair colored…. Because I have never colored my hair. I know that once I start to really go grey I have years of coloring ahead of me and the idea of keeping it up already stresses me out. I have a hard enough time getting my hair cut every 6 months.
Another one who doesn’t color her hair! More power to you. My hair stylist tells me that, yes, once you start covering the grey, you can never stop. I just do highlights and hope that mostly takes care of those greys that I am starting to see around my temples. Of course, my husband is getting grey too but it looks distinguished on him.
I lost my hair coloring virginity when I got highlights at age 28. But it was a slippery slope. First just blond highlights, then blond/red, then the stylist said I needed an all-over coloring to achieve a proper contrasting tone. Shortly thereafter I had my son and realized that the 3+ hours it took to get my hair done were a really long time for my boobs to go without nursing. I decided to just grow my hair out to my natural color, which wasn’t that different so I don’t think it looked ridiculous. Now I have my natural color, and I figure I’ll just go back to highlights when I start going gray. But yes, really great idea for a salon!
[...] Emily [...]
I color my own hair and have for nearly 20 years. Until someone takes me aside and tells me I’m doing a horrible job or missed a huge chunk, I will continue to color in my bathroom.
I was originally inspired to open a coffee shop with daycare, but that morphed into drop off daycare. Now I just need to get a loan…
I’m with you – must get my nails done – my hubbie totally doesn’t get it. I give (gave) up a lot quitting my job and becoming a SAHM, but my nails – nope – won’t ever give that little treat up!