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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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