Trial run: chocolate hair

The Idea: Warm chocolate oil hydrates and replenishes dry, damaged hair — and smells delicious.

The Process: After a shampoo, the thick conditioning oil is massaged into hair and scalp. The smell was described to me as a “big homemade chocolate cake.”

I couldn’t have said it any better myself. Your hair is covered in what is essentially a plastic shower cap and placed under the drier for 15 to 20 minutes.

The oil is then rinsed out, and a light conditioner is applied. The treatment ended with a quick blow-dry and style.

In all, the process took about an hour.

Thoughts and Musings: The harsh winter weather has not been kind to my already dry hair, so I thought this would be a good way to combat its effects. What I didn’t realize was that this would be the most luxurious hour of a busy week.

The heat of the drier intensified the heavenly scent of chocolate and unwound my knotted shoulders. As I sat waiting for the oil to work its magic, the assistant brought me a steaming cup of green tea. It felt nice to clean out my insides while I did something good for my exterior.

The Verdict: I left feeling totally relaxed and loving my silky hair. The next day, I received numerous compliments on its shine and bounce. My daily battle against frizz was temporarily put on hold while I basked in the feeling of my soft locks.

And if that weren’t enough to sell me on the results, the joy continued when I could still make out the faint scent of chocolate during my next shower.

$40 for one treatment. Riversong Spa and Salon, 2100 Forum Blvd., Ste. C, Columbia, 447-1772, or Jefferson City, (573) 636-9796.