Tag Archives: haircut

Root Hair and Beauty, Exmouth Market

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I’m always looking for a boutique hairdresser that provides a great service in a friendly space. Root Hair and Beauty is the perfect neighbourhood salon. In March 2016, after a total rebrand, Root was reopened by Stefano Pierantozzi. He has tons of experience and a welcoming nature, making the venue relaxed and approachable but professional. The team of stylists and beauticians provide a range of hair and beauty services to meet all your pampering needs.

Root salon

On a quiet Tuesday morning I had the salon to myself… (at weekends they get manic). Root is conveniently located on the charming Exmouth Market, a street which has a plethora of small independent businesses, from pizza restaurants to gift shops. The interiors are simply and stylishly decorated with plenty of light.

Root salon

Stefano swears by the Italian brand Davines, which is healthy and nourishing for hair with no nasty sulfates. He washed my hair with the clarifying shampoo and an illuminating shampoo from the range, before using a silver mask to dull the copper tones in my blonde highlights. I felt completely relaxed as he massaged the moisturising mask into my hair and soothed my scalp.

Root salon

We chatted through the change in hairstyle, deciding to keep the length but trim the split ends and remove the layers to create a more striking overall look. Stefano worked quickly but carefully through my hair as we chatted about haircare and the salon’s successes.

Before blow-drying my hair, the Davines Oi All in One Milk was combed through to add smoothness through the lengths. My hair felt light and silky, with a cooler colour and sharper finish. To add a big of glamour Stefano added some loose beachy curls to my hair before spraying with a texturising hairspray.

I envy the locals who live close to Root, I can imagine I’d spend a fortune on regular blow-dries and hair transformations if I was lucky enough to be an Exmouth Market resident.

More information and book an appointment at Root Hair & Beauty here.

Myla & Davis, Brixton

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Until now I have trekked up to East London for hip haircuts, but this week I discovered Myla & Davis, a trio of independent hairdressing salons in South London. Founder Katya Davies started the brand in Herne Hill, as a boutique neighbourhood salon offering cut and colour services by pro stylists at reasonable prices. I recently visited the newest venue in Brixton… a perfectly compact but well organised space with fresh, clean design and an informal and friendly atmosphere.

The Myla & Davis salons have become known for their mix of professionalism and good chatting skills! I’d picked up a few magazines to absorb whilst my stylist Jess transformed my unruly mop of hair, but soon we were chatting away and the reading material was discarded! After 6 months of world travel, with questionable hair products and no haircuts, my hair was in great need of a revamp. The roots were unfashionably outgrown and my split ends were creeping further up. We decided on a trim and highlights to brighten and lighten the tips whilst making the roots look more natural.

Jess worked wonders, magically and effortlessly blending the dye to soften my colour, giving a natural, sun-kissed look. Endless cups of earl grey tea, sparkling elderflower and water were bought to me whilst I sat lazily in my seat. After a quick toner and hair wash I was back in front of the mirror ready for my trim.

Myla and Davis work religiously with US cult brand Bumble and Bumble and the product ranges are lined up neatly on the wall. I love their products but often struggle to understand which suits my hair best. Jess offered me frank and realistic recommendations of which products I should use, dependent on hair type, what look you wish to achieve and how often you wash your hair. It was decided that the surf range would offer a beachy texture whilst not adding too much weight to my hair.

Often I feel rushed by hairdressers but Jess seemed genuinely happy to spend time demonstrating how to use each product and offering insider tips. I walked out of Myla & Davis with a beautiful, bouncy new hairstyle and feeling confident that I could maintain the style in my own home using the salon’s helpful advice.

More information and book an appointment at Myla & Davis here.

Radio Salon, Broadway Market

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There is a real sense of community on Broadway Market. This buzzy street runs from London Fields to Regent’s Canal and has a host of boutique shops, cafes and restaurants to explore. Last week I went to check out the new Radio Salon, tucked in between the shopfronts glowing in the twilight with a mist of hairspray hovering in the air inside.

Radio Redchurch Street is an institution, I visited a few years ago and loved the personality of the salon and staff. Following on from this flagship salon’s success, the team has opened this smaller, quainter branch which has been redecorated and refreshed in the last few months. The trendy interior features distressed wooden floorboards, smart black leather barber seats and exposed lightbulbs – it is the look of East London.

Radio proudly use the whole Bumble & Bumble range in their innovative hairdressing. The flexible and light qualities of this brand suits their chic, catwalk-ready styles. The products are fun but reliable and I guarantee you’ll want to take a selection of coloured bottles home after your haircut – luckily Radio stocks it all so you can buy yourself a little treat on the way out.

Sipping a glass of chilled Prosecco, I sat back and let the staff liven up my hairstyle and mood. After an invigorating wash and massage, my stylist for the evening Vlad came over to suss out what to do with my tangled mop. We decided on a neat trim to remove tired split ends and a wavy blow-dry to add movement and volume. I didn’t even notice the haircut as we were so deep in conversation about the various Bumble products that would suit my hair. After various, deliciously scented serums, sprays and lotions, my hair was dried and twisted to create loose beachy kinks. Despite the summery look, my hair had infinitely more volume and the strands felt nourished and glossy.

I left with a swing in my step, even the rain, the bus strike and long journey home didn’t bother me with my new locks.

Here’s some tips from my stylist Vlad about his favourite Bumble and bumble products for my hair:

Bumble and bumble Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner…

These products are designed specifically to give life to fine and limp hair making it feel fuller and thicker while smoothing flyaways.

Bb Thickening Hairspray

This is one of my favourite products from Bumble and bumble because you can play with it in so many ways. From applying it to the roots to spreading throughout the lengths it gives incredible hold, lift and body to even fine and limp hair. Once applied to the hair the hold gives you control so you can play with your hair throughout the day making it bigger or sleeker depending on your mood.

Bb Mending Complex is another favourite product of mine because it brings chemically treated (highlighted, bleached, over-processed) and damaged hair back to life. This product strengthens the hair from the medulla to the exterior and can be used as a repairing treatment every single time you blow dry your hair or dried into partially damp hair to give a moisture boost.

Bb Surf Spray – This product makes me feel like a magician as it literally recreates the texture created by nature and the ocean in your hair. I like to spritz this product into the hair from a distance after blow drying loose waves to give that natural texture and movement. You can also spray evenly on damp or dry hair and let it dry naturally for a more undone look.

And I always hear this question… Why does product make your hair greasy? Well the answer is it doesn’t, it’s our hands and the habit of touching our hair that cause grease so long as you are using the right products recommended to you by your hair stylist. Keep in mind that we are all different and have different hair types so what works for your friends will not necessarily work for you. Find what works for you and stick to it!

More information and book an appointment here: www.radiohairsalon.com/broadwaymarket-salon