How My Haircut Survived Bay to Breakers (And What That Says About Hairchitect SF)

I'm not a person who thinks much about hair. Mine gets cut roughly twice a year, usually when I can no longer see through my bangs. So when my stylish friend dragged me to Hairchitect in the Marina, I went along mostly for the complimentary espresso.

"Your hair has been cutting itself," said Mei, my assigned hairchitect, examining my DIY trim attempts with the concern of someone inspecting structural damage after an earthquake.

What followed was less haircut, more hair rehabilitation. Mei didn't just ask questions – she built a relationship with my hair, understanding its rebellious tendencies and stubborn cowlicks. "We're not fighting against your hair's natural architecture," she explained. "We're creating a structure that works with its natural forces."

The real test came during Bay to Breakers. After running 7.5 miles in San Francisco's famous race, getting sprayed with water, and ending the day in Golden Gate Park's notoriously foggy microclimate, my hair still looked intentional rather than accidental.

For someone whose hair care routine consists of "occasionally remembers conditioner," this was nothing short of miraculous.

Hairchitect might be the only salon in San Francisco that approaches hair with the precision of drafting blueprints – and for those of us living in this city of microclimates and unexpected adventures, that's exactly the approach our hair needs.