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| Logo Courtesy of Lebel and Crowe |
Lebel and Crowe is a little salon, tucked away upstairs, in a busy Queen Street West location. Set amongst an enormous bay window backdrop of Queen Street West, Lebel and Crowe is a beautifully designed loft space (shared with another business, an eyebrow bar) whose laid back atmosphere is something to be desired. The moment I stepped into their space, I fell in love.
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| ‘Reception’ Area of Lebel and Crowe |
Run by partners Jesse Crowe and Emily Lebel, the atmosphere of this salon is something I haven’t seen in a salon, nor anticipated. The salon is beautiful decorated and feels like home. Emily and Jesse wanted to create an atmosphere that is like going over to a friends house, and perhaps just happening to get your hair cut while you were there. Let me tell you, they definitely succeeded. The relaxed and personal atmosphere is perfectly complimented by a wall of art showcasing local Toronto talent and some of their favourite pieces. Amazing.
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| Salon Chair & Wall of Art |
Straight away, I felt like a ‘friend’ – I was welcomed into the space, welcomed to take a look around, offered a beverage of my choice (they even have some alcoholic beverages on hand, for some of the later appointments), and immediately engaged in conversation. Emily, my stylist, felt like a friend from long ago, not someone I just met! Everything is just so relaxed and personal – it’s completely different from the sometimes ‘clinical’ nature that salons can unfortunately fall into.
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| Styling Station |
Jesse and Emily both used to work at Grateful Head, another salon in the Toronto area. Both were looking to pursue an opportunity where they could be their own boss, they could manage their own salon, and create their own cultural environment within a salon. Earlier this year, the opportunity to separate and open their own place fell conveniently into their laps. An opening at a prime Queen Street West location was available to them, and an opportunity to share work space with a tried and trusted friend (Mary, the owner of the brow bar attached to them) was too good to pass up. And thus, Lebel and Crowe was established in summer 2012.
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| Jesse sitting in front of a gorgeous bay window |
Emily, my stylist for the day, is a miracle worker. She transformed my hairstyle from flat, boring, and LONG, to chic, modern and updated. I’ve never been so happy with a haircut, and had so much trust in a stylist! I loved her personal story too. Emily graduated with a degree in Radio Broadcasting, and initially worked in the business sector for many years. Yet, in her spare time, she happened to style hair. Following her passion, Emily enrolled in the Aveda Institute to train to become a stylist. Given her natural ability and talent, she quickly graduated. Now, she’s onto her newest frontier – co-owning her own salon!
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| Emily working |
I am proof that Emily is phenomenally talented – she transformed my entire style in a matter of 60 minutes! See my ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures below.
BEFORE:
Add about another inch and you had the current length of my hair.
AFTER:
Emily and I, now with bangs!
Lebel and Crowe is open from Tuesday to Saturday, and appointment booking is available online here. They can do range of styles – from men’s and women’s cuts, styles, updo’s and colours. If you happen to be in the Queen Street West and Manning Street area, definitely pop in – you’ll be welcome with open arms!
Contact me at ashley@torontobeautyreviews.com.
***Disclosure: Services provided complimentary by Lebel and Crowe***
