Angels of Beauty, Part 1
Last week, at my usual Tuesday New York Kabbalah class, my neighbor Mordechai, a cute blondish young man with an Israeli accent, tells me “You smell good. What perfume are you wearing?”
While our teacher, Ruth, gives to a crowd of 200 attentive people the secrets of how to connect to immortality on the occasion of the Jewish Holiday of Shavuot, I whisper in his ear, “It’s Amber scented essence mixed with Moroccan Argan Oil, just brought it with me from Agadir…”
On our way out, I give my business card to Mordechai who after asking about my Argan trip to the Women’s Targanine Cooperative disappears quickly, probably to give a try at being immortal somewhere downtown.
The next day, I receive the following message in my inbox: “Dear Joelle, I would like to invite you to experience the Yarok Sensorial treatment at your convenience. Please let my assistant Rebecca know at what time you will be coming”.
The place where editorial stylist Mordechai Alvow, founder of Yarok Hair Care, a budding botanically-based line of restorative hair care is waiting for me, is just a surprise!
On the sixth floor of a Madison Avenue rooftop, the Pashah salon has a large terrace filled with beautiful Hortensia and Geranium plants. He’s smiling at my astonishment in front of the suspended Shangri La.
An assistant brings a large box of bottles with colored labels, a Japanese comb, a few soft cotton eye shields, and a personalized card with a questionnaire (that apparently I must feel). I love it! please take care of me…and yes I would love an organic herbal tea…thank you.
Mordechai explains that that like the skin, the scalp is susceptible to aging and requires nourishment and nurturing to optimally function and to preserve it’s health. He then decides that the most suited product for my hair type at this moment is the Real Brunette Serum number 2 treatment .
My hair gets washed and conditioned with Green with Envy volume Shampoo and conditioner by a south American man dressed in black.
On the other side of the wood paneled salon a steam machine is waiting to embrace my treated hair and already scented with a tangy-herbaceous aroma of the combination of essential oils in the Shampoo derived from organically-grown and wild-crafted flowers, plants, fruits and herbs.
Lavender, Cedar, Atlas, Red Mandarin, Sweet Orange and Grapefruit extract apparently are effective preservatives and my hair gets nourished by the Organic Jojoba seed, Macadamia nut oils, and Organic Aloa Vera , Vetiver and Tea Tree aromas from the conditioner.
Back in Mordechai’s hands he explains that the Real Brunette serum contains Rosemary, a naturally stimulating essential oil believed to control dandruff it controls hair growth and preserves all shades of brown hair. Also he mentions the presence of Hemp oil derived from essential fatty acids is believed to aid in healing the hair.
A disposable eye shield is placed on my eyes while I am gently applied during the best 30 minutes of the day an invigorating scalp massage to enhance circulation and increase the penetration of other delicious components on my hair.The massage technique is inspired from the Japanese and it’s called Tsubo.
It starts by placing two hands on the scalp while ten fingers face each-other, begin by pressing and making small rotations gradually moving downward, using this vi-grating technique all over the scalp. Then using a wooden comb to bring all the oils out to the hair shaft it also creates better flow of the blood circulation. I promise you, It’s a it like being in heaven.
Sweet Almond, Wheat Germ, Lavender, Juniper, and Sandalwood. I have no idea if Mordechai is still talking to me or not, the only thing I feel is the crown of my head re -freshened by those magic natural ingredients and wrapped in a prescribed warm towel and steamer for 10 minutes respectively.
Mordechai’s upbringing like mine is European and while attentively combing my hair from roots to ends with the Japanese wooden he confides me that his grandmother and parents included the use of homemade recipes to treat a variety of maladies.
This is the reason why his company Yarok holds the responsibility of harvesting plants ingredients without adding synthetic preservatives, additives and fragrances grown respectfully so as to retain the highest possible concentration of nutrients. These ingredients are painstakingly researched and handpicked for their sensory benefits throughout history and sourced from pristine locales around the world by Mordechai himself.
I am now ready for my blow dry. Luckily I am going to get one of the most appreciated blow dries in town. I am now as Naomi Watts, Alessandra Ambrosio, Cathrine Zeta Jones, Marisa Tomei, Serena and Vanessa Williams,The Black Eye Peas, Vanessa Minillo, Melania Trump a client of Mordechai.
The editorial artist who brilliantly interprets fashion and trends working for Allure, Elle, In Style, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Ocean Drive,Vanity Fair, New York Magazine and Vogue, with international runaway experience and influence from Alexander Mac Queen, to Yohji Yamamoto passing through Robeto Cavalli, Anna Sui and Rosa Cha, mastered his creativity in my unique wearable hairstyle. While he” dances” ( he also is a dancer and gives part of his revenue to the dance education programs for kids across the country) with my hair I make sure I ” register” the activity and the shine and manageability of my hair with my camera.
Yarok means “Green” in Hebrew and I my New York city hair is now healthy and fitness-minded as if I came out from the woods. After all, I always thought Kabbalah would show me the way to a healthier nourished and harmonious life.
So long Mordechai and keep up the good work!
Joelle’s Picks
The Yarok Sensory Treatment : Price: US $100.00
The Salon in New York:
Hiro Haraguchi
41, east 57 street, 4 floorNew York.New York 10022
Tel + 212 593- 30- 30
Chicago, Miami,Tel Aviv, Los Angeles
Blow dry to follow the treatment starts at $75 to $125
Blow dry styling with Mordechai is $150. Tel 917 617 3349 /info@yarokhair.com
The products: Any 2-oz. Serum is US$60, Green Shampoo Envy US$32 , Green Envy Conditioner US$35, Gift Boxes all available at Shop Yarok
