Edward James Salon, Putney

Putney is not an area of London I venture to often, but a day at the Edward James salon and spa was an invitation I could not turn down. Since my 6 months of travelling I have really let my hair slip, with fewer cuts and even less colour maintenance. So it was definitely time for a re-haul and drastic new look.

Edward James salon

I felt instantly at home when I walked through the door of the EJ salon. After battling through the gale force winds, the lovely team sat me downstairs with a glass of water and introduced me to Shermia, my therapist for the morning.

Edward James loves the Aveda ranges, for skin and hair, and the collection is used in the salon and spa parts of his business. Natural and nourishing, the Aveda products aim to restore balance to the five elements holistically (sight, smell, sound, taste, touch) with their pure aromas and plant-based ingredients.

Edward James salon

Shermia was wonderful. Starting with a facial, she thoroughly examined my skin, identifying the areas of concern (major dehydration) and how she could combat this in the treatment. Using the Aveda range she deeply cleansed and polished my skin, removing all dirt and impurities, before replenishing the skin with moisture and hydration.

Next came the back massage. The confidence and strength in Shermia’s hands relaxed my muscles in seconds and I felt enormous relief as she soothed the knots in my shoulders and lower back. She seemed to know my body and worked wonders on every inch of my back. It was, quite possibly, the best massage of my life, and I didn’t want it to end!

Edward James salon

Almost asleep and in a state of blissful calm I was led upstairs for my hair makeover. Edward came over and we chatted through the different possibilities for my hair cut and colour. Despite his reputation and prestige, Edward is down to earth and very likeable, we chatted about everything from celebrity hairstyles to family holidays.

We decided to cut a decent amount off the length and darken the colour to a more natural shade. Aveda is brilliant for glossy brown shades and I felt in safe hands with this colour range. Edward efficiently coloured the roots, carefully concealing any stray greys and dulled down my brassy bright blonde tips. For the cut he snipped away at the length and added in some feathered layers to add shape and body, and trimmed the front pieces to frame my face.

It is a joy to witness Edward’s instinct with hair. Both cutting and colouring come so naturally to him that you always feel in very safe hands while he is transforming your hair.

Edward James salon

Hot drinks and moreish biscuits were delivered regularly, while I sat lazily and let the staff pamper me. In between cut and colour, a lovely girl came over to give me an extra hand massage, and I was amazed to discover that every customer gets a mini head & shoulder massage before their hair cut. The idea is to give everyone a fully relaxing experience, and it seems to work, the salon has a jovial and zen feel with both staff and customers having an enjoyable time.

Edward James salon

I’m not the selfie type, but proud of my new hair I excitedly sent round selfies to my phonebook, showcasing my new look… Thank you Edward James for my fabulous new hair and a totally wonderful day in your salon.

More information and book an appointment here.

DryBy, Hair and Nail Studio

I am always on the lookout for stylish salons for pampering treatments. Recently, with wedding season in full swing, I’ve regularly needed a blow dry or pedicure, but it is tricky to find a place that offers great hair and nail services under the same roof. I’d seen pastel pictures of the DryBy studios pop up on my Instagram feed, and had an inkling it could be the perfect solution for pre-event makeovers.

DryBy

Located just off Regent Street, DryBy is ideal for those working or living centrally. The salon was started up by two visionary sisters, Krisztina van der Boom and Anita Puluczkai, who felt that London needed a venue to satisfy hair and nail needs. With the expert help of designers Studio KO they transformed a beautiful building into the sophisticated salon it is today.

DryByDryByDryBy

Inside everything is decorated in subtle shades of pink and rose gold, with a lovely marble table and luxe design furniture. The setting instantly relaxes you… with a cup of earl grey tea and magazines, I felt blissfully content. The hair menu is simple, offering five stable styles inspired by the most glamorous cities from round the world. London is the most popular, laid back bed-head waves to suit any occasion. I felt I had to be loyal to my home city style, but could easily have been tempted by slick straight New York look or the luscious wavy Rome hairstyle.

The sisters have carefully selected beauty brands to work with from all over the world. My hair was washed with the delicious smelling O&M, an organic company from Australia.

DryByDryBy

My lovely stylist was efficient with my hair, and within 30 minutes I felt ready for a red carpet event. It was an effortless look that I find impossible to master at home. Next I was taken downstairs for my first Shellac experience.

DryBy offers a variety of nail treatments, from mini manis and pedis to prescriptive hand and foot care, to address particularly problems. I couldn’t resist the gold foil nail art, which is applied to the end of the nail. The process was quiet and methodical; each coat of shellac is dried under the UV light, until the nails are complete. No drying time or worry of dents, I was ready to go and my nails felt more immaculate than ever before.

I can’t recommend DryBy highly enough, a stunning salon which ensures that every customer leaves feeling like the most glamorous version of themselves.

Blow-dry from £32

Manicure from £21

More information and book a treatment at DryBy here.

Myla & Davis, Brixton

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.