Enough with the toxins already! Well at least that’s what John Masters Organics Salon has been touting for the last 20 years. Although green is the latest chic thing, John Masters first started concocting his organic shampoos and potions in his Soho apartment kitchen when most of the beauty industry was just catching on to 80s poodle-hair.  “We’ve always used the agricultural definition of ‘organic’ and we have the same original guidelines for our products since the beginning,” John said. Now the forward-thinking man behind the nice-smelling hair care line at Whole Foods has pushed forward into skin care. His “dreams are to open a holistic healing center,” but for now he is working on a hush-hush hair color line.

With a celeb fans such as Rachel McAdams (who recently requested John Masters products on her movie set), Alicia Silverstone and Rosario Dawson, I was optimistic when I stopped into the Soho salon on a quiet stretch of Sullivan Street. The salon, which is NYC’s only “clean air” salon meaning all products are chemical-free and herbal-based, was already buzzing with clientele at noon on a weekday. I had a two-part appointment that included a Shiatsu scalp treatment and a (much overdue) haircut.

SHIATSU SCALP TREATMENT $80 WITH BRIAN WALLIS

First things first, this treatment turned out to be one of the best beauty deals in the city. For twenty blissful minutes, Brian mixed up a personal blend of oils and conditioners and worked the rich concoction into my scalp and strands. Using Shiatsu techniques, the massage was just powerful enough to de-stress and yet not so much pressure that it took the pampering out of the treatment. After nearly dozing off, I sat under a hairdryer for another 20 minutes so the conditioning treatment could do its job. While I was waiting, John’s dog Golden Retriever mix Maya (with a shiny coat, no doubt) was padding around the salon and stopped by to keep me company.

For my personal conditioning blend, Brian added a few drops of jasmine oil and some of John Masters’ pomegranate facial oil (that the USDA deemed safe enough to eat!).

JOHN MASTERS ORGANICS SOHO SALON

HAIRCUT BY AMANDA CUZZACREA, SALON CUTS RANGE FROM $80-$100

Amanda hails from upstate New York (also where John Masters is from) and had none of the fashion attitude that you sometimes find in high-end salons. She chatted with me about how the salon has an amazing laid-back energy and that for the runway collections this September, the team has already signed on to do a couple shows, but has had to turn down several requests because the staff is small. We also discussed my haircut, which I entrusted entirely up to her.

My hair was very long to start and almost down to the small of my back. Amanda took a look at my dry ends (which shamefully still had some hair dye growing out) and snipped about 3 inches off and added long layers so “my ends would still look full and healthy.” Then she added blunt bangs–so I could still have an “editor’s look”– and sent me on my way with a pro blowdry.

With time to spare for my afternoon meetings, I walked out considerably more relaxed and feeling lighter with the extra inches lopped off. Plus, I could smell jasmine on my pillow for days after the Shiatsu treatment. Way to stretch that (green) dollar.

JOHN MASTERS AND MAYA