Why Everyone in NYC Should Try This $75 French Hair Treatment

I have a problem: I can't stop running my fingers through my hair, and it's seriously hindering my ability to do anything. You see, I went to a magical place called Whiteroom in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, last Saturday and walked out a different person. Well, the same person but with a vastly different hairstyle and outlook on life. For those of you unfamiliar, Whiteroom is, well, a white room, but also so much more. Half hair salon, half apothecary/beauty shopping heaven, it's tucked on the corner of 6th and Bedford, right below the Williamsburg Bridge in NYC; walk by too quickly and you'll miss it.

I was invited to stop in and experience a hair treatment called the Christophe Robin Signature. Supposedly, Whiteroom is the only place that offers the treatment outside of Christophe's own salon in Paris, and Christophe himself, French hair legend that he is, personally trained the owners on exactly how to execute it. I was told that it would be very luxurious, and as someone who loves luxurious French things, I immediately said yes.

Keep scrolling to find out what went down.

I arrived early for my appointment, which never happens, but I'm glad I did because it allowed me to spend few minutes perusing the shelves of Whiteroom's apothecary. Word to the wise: You should probably never do this if you don't want to leave with a considerably lighter wallet. Co-owner Elizabeth Lovell lovingly curates the entire beauty collection, which houses popular hair brands like Sachajuan and R+Co but also niche skincare and makeup brands like Verso, Grown Alchemist, RMS, and more. Plus, you can play around and test a lot of the products, which is dangerous because you will want to buy everything.

Once I was situated in my chair, Lovell explained exactly what the treatment would entail. Basically, she would be mixing the Christophe Robin Cleansing Mask With Lemon ($49) and Moisturizing Oil With Lavender ($47) into a thick paste, then applying that paste to my hair in sections, focusing on my scalp but saturating all the way to the ends. The exact benefit of this? "The lemon cleansing mask softens the hair shaft, gently exfoliates the scalp, and rebalances the pH of the hair," Lovell explained. "All of these factors make the absorption of the lavender oil more effective and the end result is super soft, truly hydrated hair."

I settled in as Lovell painted the hydrating concoction onto my strands. Because I have thick hair, the whole process took about an hour, and she had to refill her mixing bowl twice (no strand left behind!). After my hair was completely saturated, she moved a rotating heat lamp over my head and told me to relax for 17 minutes. The heat allows the oils to penetrate the hair more deeply and also feels quite nice, like your head is enveloped in a cozy little halo.

Then came the grand finale, the crux, the epic apex: the head massage. I don't think I was emotionally prepared for how incredible this part was, mostly because I missed the part that this head massage was supposed to be 30 minutes long—30 minutes. Thirty minutes of pure, unadulterated relaxation and bliss.

I was led to the bowl and told to sit back and relax as a hairstylist named Darby massaged the mixture out of my hair. Instead of just rinsing it out, he explained that it's important to gently massage the mixture out to the point where it becomes a light lather; otherwise, the oils will just stick to your strands and make them look weighed down and soggy. (This is important to remember if you ever use these Christophe Robin products as home, too.)

"The long scalp massage ensures that the lavender oil and lemon cleanser penetrate and hydrate the scalp, as well as the hair," Lovell said. "The lemon cleansing mask contains chamomile and St. John's Wort, which act as a mild exfoliant, so it can help with any scalp buildup or irritation. Its also super relaxing and makes you feel amazing." That's putting it lightly.

And as I leaned my head back into the sink, the sounds of Tame Impala's "Let It Happen" drifting over me and Darby's skilled hands massaging my scalp with just the right amount of pressure, I felt all my stress and remnants of my post-tequila hangover melt away. I actually think I blacked out; I definitely transcended to another plane. The next thing I knew, Darby was gently wrapping a towel around my head and leading me back to my chair. I imagine my face looked like someone who had been in a very dark room for a very long time and was suddenly brought into the sunlight. I was dazed but not confused. Rather, I felt the most relaxed I've felt in months.

Darby proceeded to give me an amazing blow-dry, and I couldn't believe how soft and silky my strands felt. They felt like newborn hair, if newborns had this much hair. Best of all, they didn't feel coated with anything or artificially soft in a way that other chemically laden treatments might make your hair feel. It just felt like my hair, but a cashmere-soft version of it.

"I always recommend intense conditioning treatments to my blondes," Lovell said. "Their hair is usually heavily processed and may have issues with brittleness and uneven porosity which can lead to breakage. But anyone with naturally dry hair or hair that's dry from any color process would benefit, as well as anyone with scalp issues."

Oh, and did I mention the entire treatment is $75? It might seem like a pricey add-on at first, but it's worth every penny, in my opinion. Plus, if you're looking for a unique gift idea for someone you love, you can't go wrong with this. Whoever you gift with this will love you forever and probably return the favor in kind, so it all pays off in the end.

It's been a week since my treatment, and my hair is still as soft as ever (hence, I can't stop touching it). Go—check out this under-the-radar treatment at this Brooklyn gem before everyone else does. Your hair (and scalp) will thank you.

Next up: Find out the secret to French-girl hair.