This week, with its sad news and forecast of pouring rain might not seem like the perfect time to try out a new straightening system. But the beauty of the luxurious Gemstone Blowout is that even with the deck stacked against it, it provides stellar results.

Jessi Seese, a stylist with Chicago’s Sine Qua Non salons, prepped our thick, curly hair by washing it with a straightening shampoo and conditioner, and followed up with an application of invisible hairdresser’s oil.

“It’s a combination of Moroccan and other oils and it provides a protective barrier against heat, while also making your hair more manageable,” Sesse said.

While most curly girls don’t need added body, Seese gave us an all-over spritz of thickening spray to keep our hair from falling flat once it was straightened out. Then she applied a dollop of Bumble & bumble’s new Straight Blow-Dry, a product made from a rare gemstone blend of pearl, tourmaline, Brazilian green malachite and sapphire powders that loosen hair’s natural curves and smooth even the toughest frizz into glossy submission, before drying it in sections with a blow-dryer and a flat brush. Seese finished it off with Bb’s Thickening Crème Contour, which, she said, contains no silicone and helps keep the style looking natural without being greasy.

40 minutes after we walked through Sine Qua Non’s door, our hair was sleek—but not limp—with nary a curl in sight.

To schedule a Gemstone Blowout, $55, at Sine Qua Non salons, visit sinequanonsalons.com. You can also purchase the Bumble & bumble products used for this style at Sephora (sephora.com) or from bumbleandbumble.com –Katie Rose McEneely

With gala season on the horizon, it’s time to update your Little Black Book with a new beauty destination.

Blow by Blow, a new dry bar salon in Chicago, founded by North Shore mother/daughter team Katie and Julie Gagnon, offers gorgeous blowouts for a mere $35 and updos for $70. Even better, they spoil you with champagne, Skinnygirl Cocktails, and fun movies that play on flat screen TVs at every station. Offering daily specials like Thursday blowout and makeup combos for $60, this chic orange and white salon is the perfect place to prep before a big night out.

Blow by Blow is located at 67 E. Oak Street in Chicago. For more information, visit blow-by-blow.com, or call 312-867-0332. –Kerrie Kennedy