The ReVamp Room

A little Italy update…

I’ve had so many people tell me, “I can’t wait to hear about your trip!” and honestly, I’ve struggled with how to answer that.

The pictures tell one story. The reality is that I was incredibly sick for most of the trip. I kept telling myself I was fine, pushed through, came home, went right back to work, and ended up spending the weekend in bed with a fever and sometimes I forget I have an autoimmune disease on top of that.

I’m incredibly grateful I got to go, and there were some beautiful moments I’ll always remember. But if I’m being honest, I’m also a little disappointed that I wasn’t able to experience the trip feeling healthy and fully present.

Today I made the decision to reschedule my Tuesday clients and give myself the time I need to recover, reset my home, and finally let my body catch up.

Thank you to everyone who has been patient, understanding, and supportive. I appreciate it more than you know. ❤️

A pic of my last night on my patio in Parma, because of “La Dolce Vita” A quiet breeze. Warm lights. The last night. Alone with my thoughts in a city Id never seen before. Gratitude, joy, a little heartbreak but no regrets. 🇮🇹✨

Ever cried in a café in Italy? Yeah… me neither. 😏

My beautiful clients, The Krouse House (aka Stella’s Friends Caroline Krouse owner), gifted me this adorable Italian coin purse along with a sweet note and money to buy a coffee on them. Well… it turned into two phenomenal coffees and a cornetto. 😅

And honestly, I can’t thank them enough for this morning’s experience.

Since arriving in Italy, my favorite new drink has been the Marocchino—a layered espresso drink made with cocoa powder, espresso, and silky milk foam. Think of it as the sophisticated Italian cousin of a mocha. Absolute perfection. No sugar needed.

My cornetto was filled with apricot jam, and the beautiful red swirl throughout the pastry dough made it almost too pretty to eat. Almost.

As I sat there watching the world happen around me, it finally hit me: I’m actually here.

This was the moment I had imagined for months. People walking their dogs. Friends greeting each other with double-cheek kisses. Bicycles rolling past. Deliveries of fresh flowers arriving at restaurants for Sunday service. Just life in Italy on a Sunday morning. ( I’m in the pedestrian district and dogs are allowed everywhere and anywhere. I can’t wait to tell Stella when I get home.)

While sitting in my little window seat, I asked the woman behind the counter what their specialty was. She told me that violets are special to this region and that she had created a signature coffee inspired by them.

It was, without exaggeration, one of the most delicious coffees I’ve ever had in my life.

Of course, I asked for the recipe.

And while it may take me a million attempts when I get home, don’t be surprised when I eventually figure it out. Because some moments are worth recreating.

Today wasn’t really about the coffee.

It was about finally being present enough to realize I was living the moment I’d been dreaming about all along. ❤️🇮🇹

Before coming here, I made a list of 10 foods that are considered must-tries in this region. So instead of ordering whatever sounded good, I’ve been letting the list decide what lands on my table.
I’m true Italian 3 course style (the guy was nice enough to let me order half orders)
First came torta fritta—hot, airy pillows of fried dough. Add a slice of Prosciutto di Parma and the heat gently melts the fat, making it practically disappear on your tongue.

Then tortelli in brodo. Tiny purses of pasta floating in a simple, comforting broth and exactly what I needed.

And finally…the dish I’ll be dreaming about long after I’m back in Ohio. Slow-braised pork cheeks cooked in traditional balsamic vinegar from this region and served over mashed potatoes. Fork-tender, rich, silky, and melt-in-your-mouth. The balsamic added just enough sweetness and depth to make every bite unforgettable.

Italy isn’t spaghetti and meatballs. 🍝 😂

Day 2 Davines. Today was self care day. We started the day with a sound bath and then after we had herbal tea (from the garden) in the garden while we all sat and talked and got to know each other. We got to hear from the CEO and then randomly the actual owner of Davines was on site so he came and spoke to us as well. What an amazing experience!! We ended the evening with a pasta making class and then the chefs made us a dinner using all of the foods that they use in their products. What a mind blowing concept! When I say farm to shower, I’m not kidding!

Day 1 Davines Gathering (Part 1)

Six years ago, I walked into a random salon in Dublin for a haircut. I had no idea what products my stylist used, but I knew one thing: my hair had never looked better.

At the time, becoming a Davines salon was a huge investment for a single booth renter. I wasn’t sure if I could justify it, but something told me to take a chance. I started bringing samples into the salon, and clients would call me later asking, “When are you getting those products in?”

So I took a leap of faith and placed my first big opening order.

I still remember going into the salon on a Sunday—while I was still at J Douglas—in my pajamas to unbox every single product. I made a quick post saying the products had arrived and that I’d be there if anyone wanted to stop by. By the end of the day, I had sold almost three-quarters of my entire opening order.

That leap changed my life.

This brand helped build my business. This brand helped me build my own salon. Most importantly, this brand’s values align with my own. I never feel like I have to “push” retail because the products truly speak for themselves. If you’re one of my clients, you already know that’s true.

So when I tell you that coming here feels like my Mecca, I don’t say that lightly.

This place is magic.

Every detail is intentional. Every product begins with care. Davines is a B Corp committed to sustainability and regenerative organic agriculture. Today I learned that the giant purple artichoke in the garden is connected to a device that translates the plant’s electrical activity into music for the surrounding plants. Who even thinks of something like that?

I spent today barefoot in the botanical gardens, walking through the fields where ingredients are grown, surrounded by nature, creativity, and purpose. I’ve never felt more at peace.

My soul feels alive here.

To every client who has ever trusted me, purchased a product, referred a friend, sat in my chair, or supported The ReVamp Room—thank you.

You are the reason I’m standing here in Parma, Italy.

Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for supporting my salon. Thank you for sharing in this obsession.

I will never be able to fully express my gratitude, but I hope you know that every bit of this is because of you. ❤️

After 27 hours of traveling I finally got my home base for the first part of my week! I love the room Davines chose for me, it’s perfect. A hot shower and room service was 10/10 ravioli and gelato with boozy cherries was definitely the cherry on top!
….
and yes. It has a bidet. 🚽 😂

I made it! Chapter 1: Milano.
Next stop: Parma.

In the past 6 months this client had been to numerous stylists who just weren’t quite understanding the vision… and maybeeeee she went a little too hard on the purple shampoo. 🫠💜

Today I pulled a lot of magic and miracles out of my hat, but the #1 ingredient in a correction like this is TRUST.

3 hours later, I was genuinely worried she was going to wreck her car obsessively checking out her blonde bob blowing in the wind on 33 with the top down. 👱🏻‍♀️💁🏼‍♀️✨

Today’s little color theory lesson:
If your color has even the slightest amount of orangey warmth in it… PURPLE SHAMPOO IS 👏🏼 NOT 👏🏼 YOUR 👏🏼 FRIEND👏🏼

Purple = Red + Blue
Orange = Red + Yellow

So what happens?
The blue in purple shampoo cools the lighter blonde pieces while the remaining warmth starts reading MORE orange… leaving you with icy lavender ribbons next to warm gold/orange pieces. 😵‍💫

And suddenly…
we’ve got chaos instead of creamy dimensional blonde.

The More You Know. 💫

The last couple months at The ReVamp Room have looked a little different than usual, and I just wanted to take a moment to speak from the heart for a second as I sit in my dark lobby and reflect. 🤍

As many of you know, I’m preparing for my Italy trip with Davines in a couple weeks, and in an effort to accommodate as many appointments as possible before leaving, I’ve found myself double booking and taking on a much faster pace than I normally would.

Truthfully… I feel the shift too. And I don’t like it.

When I created The ReVamp Room, I intentionally wanted it to feel different from the typical high-volume salon environment. I built this space around the kind of experience I would personally want to enjoy — peaceful, curated, welcoming, inspiring, calm, and personal. A place where you could slow down for a little while, exhale, and not feel like just another appointment on a packed schedule. This is one of the things that new clients point out when they first visit. It’s that intentional.

And the truth is… you are what make this place so special. The conversations, trust, loyalty, laughter, the tears, vulnerability, support, calm energy, and relationships built within these walls are the heart of this salon.

My personal sweet spot has always been around 4 clients a day — maybe 5 at the very most — because I truly value being present, attentive, creative, and giving each guest the experience they deserve. Even if I sit and fold towels while we gab. While I’ve been in this busy season trying to fit everyone in before I leave, I know the energy has shifted some these past couple months, and I completely understand if it’s felt different lately.

But please bear with me. 🤍

This season is temporary, and when I return home, I’m genuinely looking forward to settling back into the slower, more intentional atmosphere that The ReVamp Room was always meant to have.

I’m beyond excited to come back refreshed and inspired, bringing new knowledge, new techniques, new ideas, new experiences, and new products home with me to share with all of you. And maybe even a little inspiration to ReVamp The ReVamp Room cosmetically.✨🇮🇹

Thank you for supporting not only my business, but also my growth, my dreams, and this little space we’ve built together. It truly means more than you know. ✨