A sanctuary in Santiago

HIDDEN QUIETLY AWAY from Santiago’s colourful and bohemian quarter, salon Atelier Benoît Poirier d’Ambreville nestles in an exclusive 80 m² open space, overlooking the eccentric neighbourhood of Bellavista. The simple yet elegant interior is generous and flooded with natural light, accompanied by a luxurious Louis XVI style fireplace. The concept is to deliver the latest treatment in an atmosphere of intimacy and luxury.

Having been involved in the fashion industry since the early ’90s, stylist and owner, Benoît Poirier d’Ambreville—responsible for some of Lucire’s shoots in the mid-2000s—sees a lot of potential in Santiago. The largest and most modern metropolitan city of Chile has recovered from recession in the 1980s, and has since developed a steady economic growth. With the introduction of shopping malls, exclusive fashion labels and Santiago fashion week, there is now a large demand for a more extravagant lifestyle and self-indulgence. The Atelier promises to offer the best.

There are two parts to the salon, the Boudoir and the Spa. The boudoir offers hair consultations, cutting, colouring and treatments. Trained at the prestigious L’Oréal institute, one of Benoît’s skills is the balayage colouring technique, popular amongst Hollywood stars and models. It is a technique, unlike foils, designed to create very natural looking highlights which grow out without developing noticeable and obvious roots. A one-on-one blow-drying lesson is also available to help recreate the salon finish.

Ultimately, the Spa takes the hair experience to a whole new level by offering a variety of shampoos and conditioners, to formulate the best combination for the health of your hair. A haven within a haven, the Atelier also offers a gourmet snacks’ menu, and a selection of complimentary beverages! The personalized, low-key and elegant indulgence is guaranteed by offering an appointment-only service in English, French and Spanish. Visit benoitdambreville.com.

Judith Yeh is assistant to the publisher at Lucire.