Tag Archives: Hair

Edward James Salon, Putney

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

The Lounge, Soho

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You can do just about anything in Soho. A few weeks ago I went for a hair makeover at The Lounge, a cool contemporary salon hidden away just behind the district’s seediest sex shops. The salon was opened by celebrated hairdresser Joe Mills, who boldly opened his business in one of the less fashionable streets and made it into a destination. More recently he opened up a barber shop called Joe and Co. which has also garnered rave reviews. The Lounge is popular with creatives, celebrities and locals alike and there is always a buzz about the place.

After a long week at work I was delighted to turn up at the door on a Friday afternoon. I slumped into one of the comfortable leather seats and let the capable staff take charge of my pampering. The pared down decor seemed to help me clear my mind and really relax into the experience. Within moments a stack of gossip magazines were placed at my disposal and a chilled glass of fizz was handed to me. It was the perfect start to the weekend. Colour expert, Tiffany, was in charge of my new hair shade. She talked me through a few ideas and we settled on natural darker roots, with blonde singed ends and got to work immediately. Very importantly she checked the time I had available before starting on the elaborate process. She was wonderfully thoughtful and thorough. The products used by The Lounge are natural and organic wherever possible and this comes through in the final result which they ensure is always subtle and real-looking.

Then came my favourite part. A massage chair, my feet up and my hair washed with the most delicious products. The Lounge Soho uses the luxury Italian range of hair products, Davines. The collection has recently been rebranded with attractive minimalist packaging, and now it seems to be in every top salon in town. My hair was treated to an intensive moisturising mask then a fabulously indulgent scalp massage, which almost sent me to sleep. The hair routine was completed with a revitalising wash and condition.

After the colour was checked and approved, Georgie, set about my tresses with a hairdryer and tongs. She effectively created an insouciant, just-out-the-sea look – the type of hairstyle you can never re-create at home. She finished the style with the aptly-named ‘sea salt spray’ by luxury hair care brand by Kevin Murphy. I left the salon feeling totally glamorous having had a luxurious pampering afternoon but looking effortlessly chic, at least I thought so!

More information and book an appointment here.