Tag Archives: hairdresser

Hari’s Hair and Nails, King’s Road

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Hari’s is my dream salon… a kooky King’s Road venue to get both your hair and nails spruced up. It is a beauty hot spot, frequented by famous faces and always busy and buzzing.

With over 35 years experience as one of London’s most famous hair and beauty retreats, Hari’s philosophy is to nurture and develop its own talent with a team of innovative stylists, many of whom have been with the company for over 15 years. They please both men and women with their exemplary colour and cutting, and fabulous Sophy Robson nail art services.

On a rainy Friday afternoon the salon was chaotic, full of pretty girls needing a make-over before the weekend. Luckily the 19 bus stop is just a few steps away so I jumped in before being soaked to the skin, ready to let the Hari’s crew beautify me. I initially noticed the quirky interior, every mirror station is differently designed and the detailing gives the salon real personality. The colour and pattern explosion reminded me of the 90’s – a kind of Girl Power haven.

Sophy Robson is something of a phenomenon, and her permanent nail station at Hari’s is a real asset to the salon. Designing and painting the nails of celebrities worldwide, including on site at the London Olympics, Robson has brought nail ornamentation to the forefront of fashion. Neringa is Sophy’s top nail girl and I was lucky enough to have my fingernails in her capable hands. Deciding on an assortment of 10 different Sophy signature styles she got to work immediately, a speedy expert. Tut-tutting at my bitten nails, she gave me a quick manicure before coating the nails in clear base coat. The ten designs (mini hearts, camouflage, flowers, polka dots, candy stripes, houndstooth, clouds, ice-cream, dalmatian and Giles eyes) each involve different coloured varnishes and complicated patterns. The techniques are tricky but Neringa completed each nail efficiently and swiftly painting the intricate designs immaculately.

After sitting downstairs for nearly 90 minutes of nail art, I was escorted upstairs for my hair cut and blow dry. I was lucky enough to be with Andy, one of the most experienced stylists at Hari’s. Known for his versatile and sharp skills he greets every customer with a warm smile and a sweet manner. He trimmed my hair before giving me a volumising blow dry. Using Kerastase products and his hands to scrunch my hair, he managed to bring out amazing natural waves. Teaching me as he worked, he convinced me I could do the same at home.
Hood up and coat on, I was ready to face the rainstorm outside, my nails and hair perfectly prepped and preened ready for the weekend. I can’t imagine a more fun and fabulous place to hang out on a Friday afternoon… Hari’s is a hairdressing heaven and a nails sanctuary for London’s most stylish girls and boys.

Details: Hari’s Hairdressers King’s Road 233 Kings Road, London, SW3 5EJ 020 7349 8722

Hari’s Hairdressers Brompton Road 305 Brompton Road, London, SW3 2DY 020 7581 5211

More information here.

Radio Salon, Shoreditch

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I think I’ve found a new favourite salon. In the last few years Shoreditch has grown in popularity enormously, with quirky coffee shops, independent boutiques and hip salons opening up every week. Radio Salon has something special to offer… real personality, in both the venue and the staff.

This spacious salon is located on Redchurch Street in the midst of East London activity. With a quaint cafe opposite and numerous nearby vintage stores, it is easy to spend the whole day wandering around this area. Radio has a slick modern look with clean, elegant design and fresh minimalist decor. The salon is also an art gallery, with regular exhibitions and events and ever-changing walls of work. Radio are also the flagship Bumble and Bumble store in London. Already a massive fan of this American brand of hair products, I spent a while perusing the organised shelves and admiring all the delicious shampoos, conditioners and styling creams.

The attention to detail here is impressive, I particularly loved the helpful handbag hanger clips that are secured onto the table in front of you. Soon I was secured in my protective gown and ready for my colour appointment with Sofie. We talked briefly about my desired effect, brighter and lighter dip dye, and how best to achieve it. Sofie was frank with me and explained that the tips of my hair were quite damaged and dry colour change would be tricky, but she would do the best she could.

Sofie worked her way systematically through my hair adding creamy blonde, and honey coloured highlights alternately, paying special attention to lighten the hairline. There was no time pressure which made the whole experience very relaxed, allowing me to enjoy reading Vogue while sipping my Prosecco! After a toner, the dye was washed out and I was treated to a heavenly head massage.

Upstairs Juri was waiting to cut my hair. He liked the style I had come in with, and as I was adamant about keeping the length we decided on a tiny trim, eliminating the worst split ends and making the whole hairstyle more straight and smart. I didn’t need to worry, he knew exactly what he was doing and worked swiftly. Promising me wavy locks, he twisted my hair with Bumble and Bumble surf spray and blow dried it ‘messy’. My hair seemed to miraculously double in volume.

The best salons are in Shoreditch, and after trying Radio, I think it is definitely a contender for the top spot. They offer every hair treatment, colour, cut or style you could ever want, plus an expertise and genuine passion for hair and art.

More information and book here.

www.radiohairsalon.com

Hot on the Highstreet Week 141

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Bumble and Bumble are my newest beauty addiction. Over the last year I’ve heard about this fashionable hair brand more and more, and now Boots are stocking the collection. However it was my trip to the Windle and Moodie salon last month that secured my obsession.

After experiencing the products in and out of the salon, I can truly vouch for this brand. Versatile and hair friendly the B&B products ensure delicious smelling, salon slick hair all the time. The products are a stylist’s dream. Indeed the company was founded with session stylists’ needs in mind. The range allows you to be creative as the products are very flexible and light and can be layered on top of each other and can be washed out easily and instantly. Used often on shoots and fashion shows, costumers can have catwalk ready hair on location.
I have tried a range of products to use for your daily hair routine from start to finish…

Bb gentle shampoo and conditioner: Brilliant everyday shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo is kind on all hair types and should only be needed once, the conditioner is luxuriously rich and creamy and adds gorgeous shine. For the best results leave the conditioner in your hair for a minute or two before washing out.

Bb texture hair undressing creme: This clever creme added amazing volume to my hair. Just work gently through damp hair and ruffle until you have achieved the desired effect. It leaves your hair smelling delicious too.

Bb brilliantine: This is best used very sparingly… you only need to scrunch through a tiny amount to damp or dry hair to give your hair the messy, slept-in look. Apparently you can use with styling wax to add more hold.

Bumble surf spray: this product is advertised everywhere, and many girls can’t live without it. The ideal spray for creating the much desired summer beachy look. I found this spray incredibly quick and easy to use, and effective on either towel dried or dry hair to separate and style tired and bored locks.

Bumble and Bumble semisumo: The whole B&B range is unisex but I reckon this product would be particularly good for men. The semisumo only launched a few weeks ago, and as part oil, part wax is a great lo-hold, hi-shine pomade. Perfect for taming unruly hair and correcting the direction of shorter cuts.

Professional and fun Bumble and Bumble are the best of both worlds. A brand to definitely get on board with.

Buy all the Bumble and Bumble products here.