Rain & Co in Kent, WA

I have been going to Betty for YEARS and I love her to death! She always does my hair perfect. I have red toned hair that I try to keep toned down and she always nails it! She has been doing a partial foil and cut on me for probably 5 years now and I have never been disappointed! Humanity Salons is super cute and has a great atmosphere. I am always relaxed while I am there, especially from the array of drinks you are offered once you get upstairs to the "lounge" area. My only beef with Humanity Salons is their website! It does not give the customer any idea of what the salon really is! Pictures of super trendy, rail thin models? Really? That is not at all what Humanity Salons is! Most of the ladies that work there are down to earth and sociable....not what the website shows! Also, the pages on the website do not go together. There is only one picture on the home page that shows the salon and what it's like inside that flashes for maybe 10 seconds never to be seen again, the rest are harshly cut models and, frankly, bad clip art. It needs to look more like what the salon really is: a cool place, with cool people who are down to earth and not judgy. Also---don't forget they are a non-profit! But who would have ever guessed that with the pictures on their site! Finally, there really is a massage therapist there! But....no mention of that on the website....Hopefully they will change the website, then they would get 5 stars!

First off, the bad:The massage I had was 90 minutes of non-therapy that frustrated me and made me actually--when I got home--feel worse for wear. Why? Well, during the massage, most of it felt like an $85 lotion application... But her techniques were awkward, asking for pressure got lotion the way I rub it in but still not exactly working the tissue... And the really awkward things that felt destructive: who massages the lower back and spine by standing above your face-down head for 90% of the time? She was in a weird position with the few actual digs really unnatural and NOT in alignment with my actual anatomy, and there was this constant sound of her exhaling on top of my head. She also had to wear a glove that squeaked and felt ... Well, like rubber/vinyl/nitrile, always colder than the hand and not skin to skin (she had cut her finger, so I understand WHY, but I would've preferred to have an option of coming back a different day, which wasn't offered since I was already naked). It was also strange that after expressing my dislike for scents I was taken on an aromatherapy "journey" and at the start inhaled 3 oils on my face, at the end the alcohol-ish vanilla (least offensive, and I felt pressured to conform to this Aveda ritual that was a lot of lamaz breathing and pushing parts into the table while she practiced breathing too)-I told of injuries and wrote DEEP and also ELBOW FREE which was not at all honored--so I also hurt where--because I have a tiny frame and elbows are not tiny or suited for tiny spaces--her elbow rubbed into my rib cage and just agh... All while her stomach was hovering above my face of course. So THAT part gets 1* and me feeling reallllly uncomfortable because it felt like she was this really confident hip kid who didn't realize that whatever school of breath and ohms she went to, she was really just not... good. I wasn't even told anything ABOUT the people doing the services (they were the only ones on the days I could go, worrisome as all the ones mentioned here were booked solid...) So yeah, I felt especially bad as I was being polite--because I had another hour+ there for my haircut, all while it was dead silent, eerily so as I was the only client when I got there and one came after me but... Well, yeah, 3 people fixated on 1 client=pressure when the service provider, nice as she was, seemed to really not grasp that I wasn't feeling healed--not to mention it was over 2400 clicks (40mins) of the breathe deep, press arms into table, la la before I was even asked if the pressure was okay; she had done by that time my neck, left arm and leg, and was on the right leg; this is something to ask 5 minutes in, but again, I felt confused since I wasn't getting a massage (deep tissue as I had asked for) but rather was taken on an Aveda make me smelly journey that didn't really...engage my muscles; they have weird air/fire/water/earth options for how you react when stressed etc, which isn't really compatible with "yo, crushed 14 vertebrae, have titanium, need to dig the knots out where muscle is struggling to partner with massive metal in its normal residence." Breathing ain't gonna fix the knots. Now for the GOOD: the haircut and reception and tea. The tea, while probably a bit risky to just go handing out (it has licorice; licorice&high blood pressure quite common to stressed massage recipients=really bad and could be fatal and licorice+heart meds=heart meds can cease to work), was yummy--licorice/mint/fennel/basil made it sweet-mint like gum, kinda, but not fake. Xylitol gum maybe. Receptionist was ultra sweet, ridiculously cute (I envy her hair!), and helpful as I am not a Kentian and even being told about food (my post-cut destination), I thought "Kent Station" just meant oh there's a cheapo food cart near the train/bus spot... Oh, it is a cute little mall. Oh. I got to walk downtown--that took a whole 10 minutes!--and landed myself at Duke's, as it was cold, my nose was a bit sniffly with all the scented stuff on me, and chowder sounded good if it was fresh (hot fresh sourdough&the wild greens salad was heaven--I found a home for my organic salad needs--candied pecans and citrus and tarragon vinaigrette? Oh yeahhhhh)... So yeah, I was saying the reception is awesome; so is the space. Oh and I got a haircut with Elyse. I worried, to be honest, as she flew through the cut and also (I forget small town talk rules) asked immediately about married/kids/in a relationship and I was thrown off like "oh, I usually get asked about my hair and what I "do" vaguely to not offend"...anyway, after the wash (she let me find safe products--Lavender and I are not friends but Aveda LOVES the stuff!--much appreciated!!), after the zoom there go 10", well, my hair is NEVER a one-round job. I located all the quirky places that because of the part and its weedy notions are always needing extra care, &she delivered A+;even let me ruin it to test its wash&go REAL style! I will return.

I love Humanity Salon! I love that I can get a great color & Cut locally. Kent is lucky to have Humanity Salon in town. Dan does my hair. I always walk out feeling great. After many years going to another barber, by husband has now moved over to Humanity Salon. They have a great barber, Santa Fe that does a great job on his hair. Unlike other barber shops, my husband can make an appointment for his cut. No more waiting in line at the barbershop for him. We both feel good that we are staying local & helping others at the same time.

So far I have visited Humanity Salons three times and have been very happy with my hair every time. My first cut was with Kelsey and my second was with Betty, I have also gone in for a foil with Betty. Both stylist are great and very friendly and do a really nice job. I felt like they both really listen to what you are looking for and do a great job in making it a reality. The salon interior is also great, very nicely decorated and comfortable. I will definitely be returning to Humanity Salons.

I got a groupon coupon to try the salon. I was expecting a professional consult and style but over paid for a color and cut. The groupon was $49 for up to $110 dollars worth of service. I got bangs and brown color nothing fancy and still paid over the groupon coupon by $21 dollars. I mainly wanted to go to the salon b/c of the non-profit factor. Yet I was not asked to choose the non-profit that I would like to donate. The stylist was friendly but didn't seem to know what she was doing. I don't think I would be going back even though they offered for a 40% discount on a return service. For simple bangs and color with no discount would have cost $131 at this salon...which I don't think I would be extremely upset if that was the case and a coupon was not involved. All in all they are lucky groupon drew me in.