Space 2018

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SPACE

SALON INTERIORS

Let’s reflect

FROM BRICK TO BRONZE, INTERIORS TO INSPIRE AND ADMIRE

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SPACE

22 EYES UP SOME DEVILISHLY GOOD DETAILS FOR THE SALON

THE SOCIAL, LONDON

THE BARBERING BOOM HAS LED TO A PLETHORA OF SMART MALE ESTABLISHMENTS

32 THE FRONT

AMANDA NOTTAGE

WHY HAVE A SHOP FRONT WHEN YOU CAN HAVE ADVERTISING A WORK OF ART? LAURA TUCKER

DEPUTY EDITOR

DIGITAL DESIGNER

BETH DAVIE

EVA VESTMANN

ART DIRECTOR

ONLINE AND DIGITAL EDITOR

NICK JABBAL

CHIEF SUB EDITOR

ALISON ROWLEY

ADAM WOOD

SPECIAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR

STAFF WRITER

JOANNA ANDERSEN

ANNA SAMSON

PUBLISHER CATHERINE HANDCOCK

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GET INSPIRED BY INCREDIBLE SALON SPACES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE

ON THE COVER

16 THAT’S HANDSOME

EDITOR

28 COME FLY WITH ME

26 BORN IN A BARN RAE PALMER REVEALS HER DAY SPA CONCEPT IN THE COUNTRY

CONTENTS

Space is a supplement of Creative HEAD, which is printed on paper certified as being from sustainable sources using only vegetable-based inks. Printed

by Buxton Press, Environmental Printer of the Year and Printing Company of the Year.

WRITE TO US AT: Creative HEAD, 21 The Timberyard, Drysdale Street, London, N1 6ND 020 7324 7540 enquiries@alfol.co.uk

Creative HEAD is published 10 times a year by Alfol Ltd. Creative HEAD is a registered trademark. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior permission of the publisher. All information correct at time of going to press.

Printing by Buxton Press

12/12/2017 13:49

LAURA LEIGH HAIRDRESSING As soon as we found the right premises I invited Stephen Ewings from Aston & Fincher to take a look. The new salon is on two levels in a period property with art deco style windows. I wanted to create as much light as possible.

Working to the brief, Stephen created several design options and we finally chose an open plan layout using PAHI furniture in our trademark monochrome colour scheme.

Aston & Fincher were a pleasure to work with, they completely understood my design brief, they took the ideas and dreams I had and made it a reality. I felt supported throughout the entire process.

Now we’re working on the next exciting project with Aston & Fincher!”

Vanadi 2s £1,029 Eurostyle Chair from £725

Laura Axton

Nidda with lights £769 Eurostyle Chair from £725

TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR SALON PROJECT CALL YOUR LOCAL ASTON & FINCHER ON 0870 240 2176 AF Furniture Salon Profile 2018 Laura Leigh SPACE.indd 1

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Rules of the

rainbow

THE

TREND

IT’S OFFICIAL – ULTRA VIOLET IS THE COLOUR OF 2018. WILL YOU DRESS YOUR SALON IN IT, OR ONE OF PANTONE’S LONDON FASHION WEEK COLOURS?

COLOUR OF 2018!

REPORT HERE’S WHAT THE MOST STYLISH SALONS WILL BE DOING IN 2018 DESK POWER

Neville’s

Say goodbye to traditional desks at reception – it’s all about streamlining the look of your salon and the client experience. “Salons are beginning to appreciate how much of a barrier that desks can be to direct and open interaction with their clients,” says Albert Ewan.

“Tablets are reducing or, in some cases, replacing large reception desks. You have to be tidy as there is nowhere to hide! At Bruce Masefield Hair in Edinburgh, the desk virtually floats on a mirror plinth with LED lighting.”

Bruce Masefield Hair

HEAD TO THE BAR

Creating specialised areas in your salon can promote your expertise. The Power Bar at Neville’s in Knightsbridge provides a perfectly tailored experience for clients, ensuring they leave with their hair in the best possible health. And colour bars are a fantastic way to show off your expertise. “They can be more than just a dispensary; it’s a place for consultations and a place to showcase the detailed process of mixing individual colour formulas,” says Elena Meglioli, national account manager at Maletti UK. “A colour bar shows a salon is committed to providing a high level of service and helps generate customer confidence.”

Albert Ewan of Albert Ewan Design, agrees: “With universitystyle degrees in colour being more sought after, the old tint cupboard will at last die out.”

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expert salon design- affordable furniture

call for the beautiful brochure surprise yourself

TREND

THE

T REPOR

COOL CONTRAST

Linton & Mac

Rebecca Carr salon

This year it’s all about unexpected combinations. “People are now looking to choose styles that contrast with their surroundings – perhaps melding a baroque or retro style with modern simplicity, creating different styles that accentuate the character of the salon,” says Sarah Dade of Salon Ambience. “The return of boutique-style salons that create smaller, more intimate work areas allow the hairdresser to create unique layouts that still retain a sense of balance in their design.”

GET THE LOOK WITH THE TAKUMI URBAN CONCRETE RANGE FROM ASTON & FINCHER

KEEP IT QUIRKY

With clients valuing authenticity more than ever, it’s important to stand out.

“Think about how and where you could use unusual flooring or wall coverings, like bricks, a concrete effect or graffiti. This will create areas of interest and personality,” says Wendy Droznika, director at LSE Hair & Beauty. “Having a blackboard wall, with chalk available to use, can be fun, as can having a feature wall with Polaroid photos taken there and then.

One-off pieces of furniture can be sourced from markets and used in unusual ways.” Try the Pietranera Epoque Desk from LSE, which has a retro feel.

Need to know

ds for 2018 as The top three interiors tren ting manager rke ma , Hoy ra predicted by Lau at Aston & Fincher: bring NDER – Any opportunity to WO NATURAL – one d goo a the outside inside is always . hes think wood finis pieces est in functional, moveable Inv – LAR MODU e. pos pur ltithat can be mu ng lines, GEOMETRIC PATTERNS – Stro ture this fea to e tinu con and patterns will hes. nis fi l wal for lly ecia year, esp

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The Choice of Leading UK Salons

For over 80 years the Maletti Group has worked with leading designers, architects and hairdressers to create innovative, high quality and practical salon furniture in a vast range of designs and styles. The eye-catching designs and the renowned reliability ensures that Maletti furniture continues to be the choice of leading UK salons and spas.

Tristan Eves - Petworth, West Sussex

Michael & Ludovic Hair Design - Warlingham

Tony&Guy - Spitalfields - London

Taylor & Taylor at Liberty - London Contact us today for our latest brochure featuring new products and Maletti classics

Maletti UK | 020 3207 2032 | www.maletti.co.uk | info@maletti.co.uk |

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I need… new styling chairs “The biggest mistake people make is choosing style over practicality,” explains Stephen Ewings, senior salon designer at Aston & Fincher. “If you have a colour zone then look for chairs in either darker colours or ones with fitted covers, with no hair or cable traps.”

Jennifer Linton, co-director at Linton & Mac in Aberdeen, also suggests that you steer clear of anything that will date quickly. “We believe that classic is best, such as the Takara Belmont Adria chair,” she says. “It’s well made and has an excellent lifespan.”

Takara Belmont

I need…

Better backwashes? New workstations? A better retail area? Whether you’re just starting out or renovating an existing salon, we look at common salon interior challenges and how to fix them I need… a super styling station

“I have never come across a styling station I liked,” says Perry Patraszewski, director of Blue Tit, who has designed and created the styling stations for each of the eight Blue Tit salons, working with local craftsmen to make his bespoke designs. “The most important element of a styling station is the position. It needs to be sturdy, beautiful, functional and in harmony with the salon.”

For Hazel & Haydn’s new salon, owner Dale Hollinshead also went down the bespoke route. He says: “The stations were designed to have standalone mirrors, so clients feel that they’re sat at their dressing table at home.”

Dale also placed the styling stations in such a way that clients can still communicate face to face, but are not looking directly into one another’s mirror “for a more private experience”, he adds.

Mirrors are also getting shorter as longer ones can make clients feel more vulnerable, says Albert Ewan, founder of Albert Ewan Design. And don’t forget about the electrical sockets and USB charging points.

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I need… a better backwash area

Begin by considering just how luxurious you want to go. Elena Meglioli, UK national account manager at Maletti UK, says: “Backwashes can offer clientcontrolled Shiatsu or air massage with variable intensity and even ‘coloured light’ therapy,” she says.

Other features to consider are: tilting or sliding basins, gel neck attachments, leg-rest, massage features and drop-stop hand shower heads. “This shower system is relatively new and ensures that the water does not run down the shower hose and onto the floor,” explains Stephen Ewings of Aston & Fincher.

Another good way of injecting a bit of interest to the backwash is infrared lamps, which add warmth and help treatments penetrate into the hair fibre “and enhance salon decor instantly”, says Wendy Droznika, director at LSE.

I need… a more impactful retail area

“When it comes to selling, appearances are everything,” says Ian Rarity, interiors expert at Salon Services UK & Ireland.

“Don’t forget, eye level is buy level – so make sure you have an attractive display of retail products in the reception area.”

Lighting is also important, advises Albert Ewan, who recommends undershelf LED strips and never grouping more than three products together – buyers can’t make a decision when they are offered any more options. When it comes to display units, Wil Fleeson, director of Rainbow Room International’s Stirling and Buchanan Street salons, says: “Buy a size you can afford to keep fully stocked, as half-empty shelves look horrible.”

I need… to remember the boring bits

“Key areas such as product storage, coat storage, hair bins, dispensaries and dryer storage are often overlooked,” says Aston & Fincher’s Stephen. “I would even go as far as to say that this is the biggest complaint when we talk to clients about redesigning their salons.”

Also, consider adding a communal area, suggests Pete Derry, director of shop fitters DWD Leicester, which designed and fitted London Road Hair (pictured, right). “Many salons now feature an area with a table and chairs and magazines or iPads so that clients feel more comfortable waiting for colour or other treatments to take effect, as many don’t like looking at themselves in a mirror,” says Pete. “It also encourages a more relaxed, informal atmosphere where clients will chat to each other rather than just sitting in isolation.”

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MAKE IT SING An avant-garde styling chair from Salon Ambience, the Aria offers a minimalist style that’s still comfortable and chic. It’s available in a choice of one or twotone sky colours at no extra cost.

From £338 until 30 April (usually £639) 07554 990965 salonambience.com

SEE THE best deals from Salon Ambience in its latest brochure, free with Creative HEAD!

ECES OUR ROUNDUP OF THE PI G FOR YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKIN N TO COMPLETE YOUR SALO

STYLE FORCE Get both luxury and impact with the updated Pahi Umitta wash unit, available exclusively from Aston & Fincher and with a choice of colours. £2,425+VAT 0870 2402176 astonandfincher.co.uk

UP IN THE AIR The stylish, compact and comfortable Sky Wash with patented liftable seat means you have super-duper easy access to plumbing.

You can opt for motorised leg lift and air massage versions, too!

From £1,890+VAT 020 3207 2032 maletti.co.uk

DO IT ALL Need something versatile? Then the Pahi Barcelona is ideal!

It works brilliantly for barbershops and, thanks to the reclining back, is perfect for backwashes, brows and make-up!

From £945+VAT 01670 738979 albertewandesign.com

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RAZZLE DAZZLE

The ingenious Fraim from Pietranera is an island unit that can be adapted to fit your needs – choose the shelving, mirrors and images you want. You can even supply your own image or logo!

From £1,345+VAT 020 8903 0002 lsehair.com

The Yume Oasis mobile shampoo is luxury in a lather – the client stays put while you manoeuvre your backwash station to meet them. A piece of salon theatre!

From £4,000 020 7515 0333 takarahairdressing.co.uk

JUST FOR YOU

Ken Picton Salon

ADAPTATION

Sometimes, you need a little something special made just for you. DWD Leicester specialises in bespoke joinery and POS display units for salons. Have you got a challenge for them?

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Photography by Francesco Russo

Salon64 Soho

S

alon64 has been highly tailored to individuals and influencers with the traditional French salon in mind, and founder Ricky Waters worked with architects JaK Studio and creative partner Brash Brands to develop a unique beauty parlour experience. It answers the questions that Ricky’s clients constantly asked: ‘Do you have a phone charger?’ ‘Can I stay a little longer to sort out my make-up and get ready for a meeting?’ ‘Is it okay if my friend sits here while you do my hair?’ Now, the answer is always yes. “It’s like having your dressing room in the heart of Soho. You can pop in, flip up a mirror, do your make-up, order a coffee from the baristas then relax, prepare yourself for your next meeting, charge your phone and catch up with friends without having a hair stylist even touch your hair,” explains Ricky.

“It’s a dynamic and flexible social hub as well as a luxury destination.”

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dWd Leicester Ltd

Bespoke retail and salon environments Providing a full and professional service ranging from initial design concepts through to full manufacture and installation

Contact our team on 0116 276 0006

email: mail@dwdleicesterltd.co.uk

or visit our website at: dwdleicesterltd.co.uk

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Wall + paper

It was the desire to show art to new audiences that led to the creation of DKUK in Peckham, South London. Owner Daniel Kelly had trained as a hairdresser before going to art school, and after several years working as an artist and struggling to pay the rent, he was looking for new ways to survive. “I had always cut people’s hair in my studio in front of my paintings, so I thought it would be interesting to extend this to the wider public,” he explains. “And from the beginning, starting with a pop-up in a gallery, it was clear something interesting was happening. People were coming in who had never visited before to get a haircut, and sitting in front of an art work they would otherwise never have encountered.”

A few months later, Daniel opened a more permanent space – he partnered with Sam Jacob Studio to design it, with furniture from Takara Belmont and Salon Equipment Centre – and in the past three years he has worked to show a wide mix of talent, from historically important artists to recent graduates. “From a hairdressing perspective, it’s inspiring to work in an environment that changes every two months with the installation of each new exhibition,” says Daniel. “I’m looking to open a second, bigger shop this year, and would then like to franchise so we can commission shows in different parts of the country and tour the exhibitions. It would be a good way for ideas to cross-pollinate.”

And the business of the salon continues alongside the art, with products from Philip Kingsley and Electric Hairdressing, and L’Oréal Professionnel colour in use. What do clients make of it all? “We don’t cut in front of a mirror, but we do start and end the service in front of a mirror to enable a full consultation,” he adds. “Most clients say they prefer the process without a mirror as they find it more relaxing.

The response to the art is as varied as you can imagine. Some people want to talk about nothing else and get really into it. Others just come to us to avoid a mirror.”

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HAVENS OF HANDSOME THE BOOM IN BARBERING HAS UNLEASHED A PLETHORA OF THOROUGHLY MODERN MALE ESTABLISHMENTS TO ENTICE THE GUYS. WE INVITE YOU INTO A DUO OF HANDSOME HAUNTS

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CUTTERS YARD, LONDON BRIDGE Cutters Yard is a new men’s grooming concept that fuses a deluxe barbering service with specialist men’s treatments. On the menu you’ll find blissful barbering using the Aveda Men line, alongside treatments ranging from simple manicures and pedicures to facials, waxes and blackhead masks. Oh, and there’s a boutique coffee bar serving Monmouth coffee. “We decided to create a unique space fusing traditional and modern ideas together,” explains founder Dasos Anastasis. “Cutters Yard is close to Tate Modern and part of bustling Bankside. We wanted to create an almost bohemian artistic workshop – warm and modern yet traditional.” And judging from its interior it’s serious about looking good all round, offering an artisanal quirkiness that stands out among its London Bridge neighbours. Help was on hand from furniture suppliers LSE, which helped select Takara Belmont chairs and introduced Dasos to Reiss Design. The agency has not only aided the design of this store, but is now also working on designing its future shops. And that floor? Courtesy of Havwoods, which was so impressed by the result it included Cutters Yard in its global customer magazine. But, most importantly, it’s been a hit. “The response from clients has been beyond our expectations,” adds Dasos.

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CUT & GRIND, COVENT GARDEN The second Cut & Grind location, in Covent Garden, has a character distinct from the first in Soho, a conscious decision by founder Hari Efthymiades for the Most Wanted award-winning brand. “Soho is a bit more creative and rough around the edges, while Covent Garden is a bit more upmarket, attracting the more suited and booted. I wanted to create somewhere grander than the first shop,” explains Hari. The exterior has now become its branding, a stripped, almost burnt-out look with no sign, no barber pole and no branded signage. “This makes people want to find out what is behind the exterior. It intrigues passers-by to find out who we are,” Hari grins. They’ll find plenty there when they do come in, courtesy of a reclamation yard in Lewisham, which provided 30 antique doors, two old writing desks and 25 table legs. A busy carpenter then got to work to create the cutting stations, the coffee bar and even the hiding place for the boiler. Speaking of hidden items, a 3m-high metal safe door is built into the wall. “It’s so unique people always ask what was in there when we found it,” says Hari. “The truth is there were only a couple of gold bars, but we don’t talk about that…”

SEE HARI EFTHYMIADES OF CUT & GRIND AT 18 | S P A C E

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25 MARCH AT THE PARK PLAZA, LONDON

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creative-head-january-2018-lse-hair.pdf

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Matthew Curtis

MATTHEW CURTIS’S MOST WANTED BEST NEW SALON AT THE ROSEWOOD LONDON IS SMALL BUT PERFECTLY FORMED. DISCOVER HOW HE MADE IT PACK A PUNCH

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ooming over High Holborn in the heart of London, The Rosewood Hotel is a landmark. With five stars to its name, the imposing Art Deco building has stood for more than a century and has seen its fair share of rich and famous clients walk through its polished doors.

Sense Spa was opened within the hotel to offer guests a carefully curated selection of treatments and, last year, The Rosewood decided a hair salon was needed to complete the top-to-toe experience. But who was the man for the job?

Enter Matthew Curtis – successful owner of swish salons in Staffordshire, Stratford-Upon-Avon and most recently Chipping Norton – who leapt at the chance to make this highclass hair dream a reality. The catch? He only had 140 sq. ft to work with. “It was a little daunting how limited the space was,” Matthew admits. “Especially as we discovered an old lift shaft running through it, which meant we lost even more room.”

Inspiration struck him not like a freight train, but an altogether more luxurious locomotive – while styling models for a Dior shoot on a train, Matthew realised that this compact yet stylish layout could be adapted for the salon. To make his Orient Express vision work, Matthew turned to designer Judy Reaves, with whom he had collaborated on the Hoar Cross Hall and the Stratford-Upon-Avon salons. “Judy comes from a theatre design background. Her work is always totally

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YOU’VE GOT THAT VIBE

MATTHEW DISCUSSES THE LOOK AND FEEL OF HIS OTHER SALONS

MATTHEW CURTIS HAIR, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON “OUR FLAGSHIP SALON SEES STEAMPUNK MEET SHABBY CHIC FOR THE ULTIMATE IN PARED BACK ELEGANCE AND CHARM. A FAVOURITE FEATURE IS THE METAL GRATE ON THE STAIRWELL – WHEN SOMEONE GETS MARRIED WE ASK THEM TO PUT A PADLOCK ON IT AND SIGN IT, LIKE ON THE PONT DES ARTS BRIDGE IN PARIS.”

immersive and manages to transport you to another time and place,” he says.

The duo faced the challenge of combining old-school glamour with functionality. “The styling chairs, reclining chair and backwash all came from WBX Europe, but the upholstery is entirely unique to the salon, sourced from Malone fabrics and features personalised embroidery on the back,” Matthew explains. The grooming mirror, cabinetry, shelving unit and salon trolleys were made to Judy’s design by furniture maker Nicholas Hewetson.

Matthew always had to remain aware of the tight space – but he was able to use this as an opportunity to get inventive. “Some of my favourite design features are the ones that showcase the creativity and inventiveness necessary to maximise space,” he says. “The wall-mounted luggage racks provide a practical storage solution while adding to the theme and an adapted steamer trunk functions as our colour bar.”

The salon looks incredible inside but it still has to fight to stand out in one of the most exciting and constantly-changing cities in the world. For Matthew, it could never be a case of style over substance – he ensures that his service is worthy of its setting: “We have created a special space, it evokes being looked after in First Class or in a private member’s club – it feels about as luxurious and personalised as it gets.”

MATTHEW CURTIS HAIR RETREAT AT HOAR CROSS HALL SPA HOTEL, STAFFORDSHIRE “OUR VISION WAS TO CREATE AN ART DECO-THEMED SALON THAT EVOKES OLD HOLLYWOOD. AS A REGULAR CATWALK STYLIST IN THE US, I CAN’T HELP BEING DRAWN TO THAT GLAMOUR. THE PINNACLE OF OUR DESIGN HAS GOT TO BE THE BLOW-DRY CHAMPAGNE BAR.”

MATTHEW CURTIS HAIR, CHIPPING NORTON “THIS SALON IS FOR A NEW CLIENTELE LOOKING TO EXPERIENCE THAT NYLON MAGAZINE VIBE IN A COUNTRY SETTING. THE BACKWASH AREA HAS A SECRET: A STUNNING PANEL BY TIMOROUS BEASTIES OF AN EXOTIC TROPICAL PRINT, FOR CLIENTS TO GAZE AT DURING THEIR SHAMPOO.” S P A C E | 21

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SKYLER LONDON, WANDSWORTH Yes, you could just have a flight of stairs taking you down from the first to ground floor. But why not thrill your inner seven-yearold and slide down instead?

Weeeeeeee!

The eyes have it SOMETIMES, THE DEVILISHLY GOOD STUFF IS IN THE DETAILS. HERE ARE A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITE IDEAS TO INSPIRE AND DELIGHT

WESTROW, BINGLEY

Forget those fancy-schmancy crystal chandeliers and go for something ultra-modern instead for your light fittings. We love this copper construction at Westrow.

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SPECTRUM ONE, ROSSENDALE

A client wants to feel secure in the hands of their hairdresser. Is having a seven-bolt bank vault door taking it to extremes? We think not!

BLUE TIT, CROUCH HILL Channel your inner Tracey Emin and embrace a bit of neon, just like Blue Tit’s, er, blue tit sign at its new Crouch Hill location. Sparks will fly.

MASTER OF CRAFT, LEEDS

In colder months you can’t beat the crackle of a wood-burning stove. Clients can grab a latte and settle in while colour develops at this Yorkshire hot spot…

RUSH ACADEMY, COVENT GARDEN

We’re all for a bit of art on our walls, so we give a thumbs-up to the incredible installations at the new RUSH Academy in Covent Garden by Matt Small.

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o t d e s a Ple

SEE KY WILSON SPEAK AT 25 MARCH AT THE PARK PLAZA, LONDON

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u o y t e e m Y

THE SOCIAL, EAST LONDON

ou can trust Ky Wilson, The It List It Guy of 2017, to think a little differently when it comes to his salon space. It’s what has driven his successful career so far, helping the hair industry to think differently. With his new warehouse location for the London outpost of The Social (he has one back home in the Lake District, too), the vision is to create a lifestyle studio that’s open to collaboration. It encourages the flexible work ethos of the freelancer community, embracing sporadic movements to let collaborators take control of their own time, money and opportunities. Every objective has a social focal point, mixing skills with other socially-driven independent enterprises – think festivals, warehouse communities, clothing designers, bars and clubs. Yes, he kills it on social media, but Ky’s focus is very much on being social in the old-school way. With plenty of light, greenery, wood and positive vibes, The Social MkII is the kind of place you just want to hang out. And Ky’s door is always open...

2017

2017 WINNER THE IT GUY

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ORN IN A BARN

WHEN RAE PALMER DECIDED SHE WANTED TO UNVEIL A NEW DAY-SPA CONCEPT UNDER HER WELOVE BRAND, SHE EMBRACED HER HAMPSHIRE SURROUNDINGS 26 | S P A C E

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I

t’s a rather bucolic setting for Rae Palmer’s latest WeLove venture: a Victorian barn in the market town of Petersfield in Hampshire, lovingly restored alongside a carefully tended garden. The plan is to bring exclusive hair and beauty services to the high street in a beautiful, artistic salon, all while embracing the local community.

“I wanted to create a home from home,” explains Rae, “I didn’t want to open a retail unit with no parking, a small mirror with a salon chair up against the wall and loads of other mirrors lined up. If I’m going to work another 15 years doing what I love, then I want to make it like my home, a place where I’m artistically inspired.”

It’s the same sentiment for her visitors, too.

“I want my clients to feel they can relax and be at my home as a guest,” she says. “We don’t need another salon doing the same – we need more salons doing ‘different’.”

Rae explains that the WeLove brand is where “art meets fashion, beauty, science and nature”, and all of these elements are included in the new location. The idea came together after a realisation; that she should be applying what she does on photographic shoots – creating a look and concept – to her clients every day, binding in beauty and photography, too.

As soon as she saw the site, she knew it was ‘The One’. “It was homey and has real presence, with thousands of cars passing it every week on a key road going into London. And it has parking!”

But practicalities aside, she also feels that the beauty of it “is that it really doesn’t look like a salon, inside or out”.

Nature is often a key inspiration for Rae’s collections, and has had a lasting impact.

“If I want my clients to see me as not just a hairdresser but also as an artist, I need to create a beautiful artistic and nature-focused business,” she says. The salon’s interiors theme has been inspired by Hampshire’s famous lavender fields. “I asked a local artist to paint her interpretation of the fields for the ground floor and then to give me the palette for the interiors,” says Rae. Second hand furniture from local antique shops has been upcycled into nail stations and beauty chairs, all re-upholstered in luxury fabrics, while the ultramodern Takara Belmont backwash features gel cushions for ultimate comfort.

The nature side of the business Rae has grown into. “I have a WeLove florist who tends the garden every week, and together we plan for every season, thinking about how we can attract bees and beautiful birds, and grow herbs and plants that can be used in the salon,” she adds. WeLove it!

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BOARDING NOW

GRAB YOUR PASSPORT AND TAKE A RIDE WITH US TO SEE A LITTLE INTERNATIONAL INTERIOR INSPIRA TION. BON VOYAGE…

ADEPT, TOKYO, JAPAN

It’s the juxtaposition of textures in this salon on the outskirts of Tokyo that stand out – from the cool of the concrete to the warm of the textiles, this is a fashionable yet welcoming space. The mismatched Takara Belmont styling chairs only add to the eccentricity…

SALON INK, DUBAI, UAE

This salon was destroyed by fire last year, but the team in Dubai has ensured this gem has risen like a phoenix, with help from some stunning furniture from Salon Ambience. The living wall is a lovely touch of green in the desert city.

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THE CHAPEL, VERBIER, SWITZERLAND

Photography by Terence Chin

We adore the mix of textures in this Chapel outpost, found in the iconic ski resort of Verbier. Fur, timber and brassedged mirrors are complemented by a pop of pink. A chic addition to the British group.

SALON KIIN, PENRITH, AUSTRALIA

It was all about creating a sense of calm and relaxation in this space, with a mix of considered artificial lighting and natural light, thanks to a purpose-built skylight. We love the colour table.

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JACQUES JANINE SALON, SĂƒO PAULO, BRAZIL

ANFRUM, OSAKA, JAPAN

Pastel shades set against a dark framework decorate this compact salon, designed by Hidenori Tsuboi Architects. The owner requested a space where customers could move around freely without being restricted to sitting in one spot. Job done.

Photography by Daisuke Shima at ad hoc inc.

How many salons can boast palm trees as part of their design? This Brazilian beauty is furnished by Maletti and utilises plenty of glass to enable clients to enjoy a tropical view while having a heavenly head massage.

Caipirinha optional.

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ROMAN B, LYON, FRANCE

This David Mallett stockist has that Parquet floor and white-walled French chic vibe absolutely nailed.

Minimal and marvellous.

EGGER SALON, LUSTENAU, AUSTRIA

There’s something rather intergalactic about this Austrian salon, with pieces selected from interiors specialist Maletti.

The central expanding support and the illuminated mirrors make you feel like (Chris Pine era) Captain Kirk on the Starship Enterprise.

To boldly go‌

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YOU’VE GOT SOME FRONT

WHEN IS A HAIR SALON NOT A SALON? WHEN IT’S A GIANT PIECE OF ART. SOLARIUM POINT IN KENT TRANSFORMS ITS SHOP FRONT REGULARLY – IS THIS THE NEW WAY TO DRAW IN THE CROWDS?

Y

ou change your window display often and keep the glass clean and the displays well-lit – all good stuff, but as clients get more discerning, salons are considering different ways to attract their attention. None more so than Solarium Point in Ramsgate, Kent. The goal was to “transcend and transform every aspect of the traditional salon experience, combining art, architecture and design with beauty and hair”, salon owner Anna Baranowska explains. “I thought it would be interesting for a client to enter the salon through a piece of art.”

Anna decided it should be seasonal, changing the display every six months and giving clients time to get used to one display while generating excitement for what would come next. At the moment the salon uses the same artist,

Heidi Mant, and the only brief the salon ever gives her is to ‘epitomise the current season’ and to ‘find a way to connect the salon with the exterior’. “It has to interact with people and draw them in,” explains Anna. “The artist usually sends us a few drafts and we decide which one works best.”

Clients love the different approach and the salon has gained new clients as a result. “It’s generated a lot of exposure and more people come in to the salon to ask about our shop front and our services.”

While the bright exterior drew people in, the salon still wanted to be able to display retail. “The interior was designed by AMB Design Studio and part of the design brief was to come up with how our products could be viewed in the window,” she says. The salon now has custom-designed shelves in the window that complement the artwork.

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LET’S GO OUTSIDE

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OUTSIDE OUTSTANDING Digital displays. L’Oréal Professionnel’s Salon Emotion initiative uses digital windows to modernise the look of salons. “Digital windows help attract consumers back into the salon, while dynamically detailing the salon’s services and offers,” says Arianna Botti, general manager – business transformation, L’Oréal Professional Products Division.

Protruding signs. Dean Jones Hairdressing uses an A-board on the pavement outside the salon to attract interest. “We love quirky quotes and find that anything with a bit of humour gets attention and gets people smiling,” says owner Dean. “The signs are created with funny, unique quotes yet still in line with our branding.”

Confident branding. “Large-scale graphics or style shots show an air of confidence in your own work, but remember logos should be easy to read and be able to translate to all aspects of marketing,” advises Albert Ewan, founder of Albert Ewan Design.

Retail positioning. If you do stock retail in your window, remember the merchandising triangle, advises Salon Success visual merchandising consultant, Katie Wroe. “Build displays in a pyramid shape to draw the customer in,” says Katie. “We typically read from left to right and the triangle helps lead the eye around your display. Create a high focal point, the tip of your triangle.

Create the rest of your display leading down from there and keep it simple and well balanced.”

y n part e d r a G

Before

Don’t write off what space you have out the back – this could add to the customer experience. In Chelsea, RYS has styling stations outside (pictured above), while at Taylor Taylor London Cheshire Street, Seed in Fulham and David Mallett in Paris, you can relax and grab some fresh air, weather permitting!

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EXTRA, EXTRA

WELL DONE YOU – YOUR SALON IS LOOKING MARVELLOUS! BUT WE’RE NOT FINISHED YET… HERE ARE A FEW FINISHING TOUCHES GET IN THE FLOW

If your salon is looking sweet, you want to keep the team and clients that way too. Shortcuts salon software can give you all the stats and insight in a flash that you need – at Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa, all team members have access to the system on their mobiles!

It’s pointless having a gorgeous salon if you can’t deliver the perfect temperature at the backwash– is there anything worse than a freezing cold rinse? Yes, a scorchingly hot one! So, it’s worth taking water seriously, and you don’t get much more serious than the Aquaflow Powermaster. It’s designed to heat the water quick-smart, while keeping any heat loss low, which keeps it efficient – new for 2018 is a self-learning ‘smart’ thermostat.

This means the pressure and temperature at all your basins is the same – hurrah!

shortcuts.co.uk

salonaquaflow.co.uk

A THOROUGHLY MODERN SALON

Set-up and training: £1,395 0161 9724900

DAILY GRIND

Okay, we can’t deliver George Clooney into your salon, but we’ve got the next best thing – a Nespresso Professional machine, guaranteeing Clooney-approved brews.

Price: various payment options available 0808 1008844 nespresso.com

FACE FORWARD

Price: from £645+VAT 01270 522420

WET, WET, WET

Want to encourage a new revenue stream?

Then how about a range of premium High Definition make-up?

Set up: from £2,995+VAT and

Methven’s Aurajet Aio shower head has impressed, with testers saying it rinses hair quicker and makes it look healthier and shinier. It has a lifetime warranty, uses only nine litres per minute and reduces hard water build-up.

beautyinhighdefinition.com

methven.com

RRP: from £9.95 0113 2247908

Price: from £94 0800 1951602

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“Before we had Shortcuts we were literally filling in appointment sheets in by pencil. Now every member of our team has access to Shortcuts on their mobile phone and it’s been absolutely essential to the better running of our business.”

— Richard Ward Richard Ward Hair and Metrospa

Find out more at

shortcuts.co.uk

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