On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Small Wonder — a hair care brand making waves with its waterless concentrates and refillable packaging — hosted an intimate activation at the Blandi Salon inside the legendary Plaza Hotel in New York City. The Tease was invited to check out the experience, and as part of the partnerships team (and a contributor), I got the chance to see what Small Wonder is all about. Since my hair is buzzed down to nothing, I brought along my sister Samantha — a beauty industry pro herself — to get the full treatment.
From the Coop to the Concrete Jungle
The adventure kicked off on Monday from Maryland, where Samantha’s flock of free-range chickens, guineas, and turkeys gave me a chaotic little send-off. After a quick pack check and a caffeine stop at Panera, we hit the road with the Volume Up podcast as our soundtrack.
The highway stretch wasn’t exactly cinematic, but we tried to grab some B-roll of the skyline once we hit NYC — though we honestly couldn’t tell you which buildings we were filming.
We got to our hotel after some light Google Maps-induced misdirection, just two blocks from Central Park. The plan was to take a stroll, but after realizing how dark Central Park is at night (shoutout to Cirque Colors’ “Central Park After Dark” for the accurate vibe check), we ditched the walk and went on a hunt for dinner. Monday night near tourist-heavy Midtown means a whole lot of chain restaurants, so we gave up and DoorDashed back at the hotel — boba tea, fried chicken, and onigiri with mixed reviews.
Small Wonder Takes the Plaza
Tuesday morning, we fought over mirror time, grabbed matchas and croissants, and made our way to the Plaza. NYC was hitting an unexpected 60-degree heat wave, but locals were still bundled in floor-length coats, scarves, and hats — either committed to their winter fashion moment or genuinely freezing.
The Blandi Salon sits on the Plaza’s second floor, behind gilded doors and a mirrored elevator that opens into a marble ballroom. Inside, the Blandi team, Small Wonder CEO Stephanie Farsht, and Zion from ExitOne Solutions greeted us before Samantha’s hair journey began.
The shampoo therapist walked us through how Small Wonder’s powder-to-lather shampoo and conditioner works — just dispense, add water, and lather. I was genuinely surprised at how foamy it got, and Samantha was already raving about how soft her hair felt post-conditioning. Stylist Gretchen followed up with a blowout that had Samantha serving sleek, bouncy hair — perfect for a few before-and-after shots.
Clean Hair, Clear Conscience
Despite power-walking blocks in 60-degree weather with arms full of luggage, coffee, and bagels (for the husbands back home), Samantha’s hair still felt fresh and looked untouched by the time we hit the road. The whole experience felt like a preview of what salon hair care could be — high performance, eco-conscious, and way less wasteful.
Stephanie and Zion sent us home with Small Wonder shampoo and conditioner, and after trying it out myself, I’m hooked. It’s officially made its way into my regular shower lineup, and both Samantha’s household and mine are fully on board.
Small Wonder’s refillable shampoo and conditioner are available now, with a styling serum on the way and more salon backbar innovations in the works. If your salon wants to get in on the waterless revolution, follow @smallwonder.world to stay in the know.
