I Got a Blow-Out in Davos at Kopps Coiffure for $170. It Was Worth It.

Unlike other shops that hand their keys over to the various brands that pop-up along the promenade during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, which gathers leaders in various sectors, including business, government, and media, Kopps remains open for the week, catering to the professional women attendees, who are about to do a weeklong stint of power meetings.

I arrived a few minutes before 9 a.m. to check in, and the salon was eerily quiet — not what I remembered from attending previous conferences.

Little did I know, it was the quiet before the storm.

The phone started ringing, and I heard the receptionist say they were nearly booked for the week. I was relieved that I had made this appointment a month in advance.

A communications executive that I have worked with on multiple projects walks in. This is also her Davos routine. We say hello and exchange what we’ve been hearing along the promenade.

Everyone is buzzing about what President Donald Trump may or may not say when he appears at WEF on Wednesday afternoon.

As I look around the salon, there are a lot of women who are just like me. I’m working discreetly off my phone, end up taking a call from a colleague, and don’t feel nearly as bad about it because the woman getting her blowout behind me is working off her laptop.

One thing insiders at Davos will tell you is that food is impossible to find. That’s true, but even worse, good coffee is hard to come by.

I’m a caffeine junkie and a self-proclaimed coffee snob (pour-over is my thing), and the other treat about Kopps is the coffee they serve you during your appointment—it’s one of the best cups.

I decide on a cappuccino, which is a treat, mostly because I also know it will be the best one I have all week. That’s included in the 135 CHF or nearly $170 USD price tag.

My hairstylist gets to work, and I sink into my chair while scanning the news headlines. It was a nice touch to have a head massage at the start, included in the blowout. Despite my mind racing to prep, I know this is the most relaxing hour I will have all week.

I look around the salon and see a couple of other executives that I know. Of course, you could also hire a stylist at Kopps to come to your hotel or apartment and fly completely under the radar, but where’s the fun in that?

It all feels a bit “Legally Blonde,” you know, the Reese Witherspoon movie where her hair is always perfectly coiffed as she takes over the world, or her law school.

In a high-stakes conference setting like Davos, looking polished — whether it’s getting your nails done, your hair blown out, or your hair cut — can remove a small but meaningful barrier to making a strong first impression.

Still, that’s the spirit of Davos—we are all here together and every moment is a networking opportunity, even in the hair salon.