HEALTH & BEAUTY
Before!
After!
BME SALON Hairway to heaven…
M
y hair has really been through it over the last year or so. I’m not just talking about skipping the odd trim or forgetting to use a nourishing hair mask every Tuesday evening: I actually can’t remember the last time I set foot in a hair salon. Add to that a period of cavorting around hot countries and subjecting my locks to a triple arsenal of scorching sun, sea and sand – without even the courtesy of an occasional condition (far too much of a luxury for a backpacker). Then, with little respite from the onslaught, I went straight from tropical summer to the cold, dry UK winter. My hair had, unsurprisingly, become dry, brittle and horribly unruly. Brushing had become a lost cause, and I daydreamed about running my fingers through glossy locks worthy of a L’Oreal ad instead of becoming ensnared by straggly curls that had blended together into one megadreadlock. All in all, ya girl was in need of a revolution from the roots downwards; but as someone who considers a trim adventurous, a cut, style and colour seemed daunting to a low maintenance lass. Despite spending the best part of an hour accumulating a Pinterest board of potential colour and style combos, I approached BME salon, still feeling unclear about what I wanted and just a little apprehensive.
BME means to be the ‘Best Me’, or the best version of yourself. With over 42 years’ experience between top stylists Benjamin (also the owner) and Lucy, the salon opened its doors in July 2019, taking a slot in the lovely red brick buildings at Bristol Paintworks. Once inside the bright, airy, modern salon and comfortably settled with a creamy latte and biscuit in hand, I confessed all of the hair atrocities I’d committed to Lucy. To her credit, she didn’t flinch even a little and managed to tease out the semi-formed ideas I had in mind, taking my wishes on board while being realistic and offering her own advice where necessary. She picked up on cues I didn’t even know I was giving: did you know, for instance, that when someone plays with their hair during a consultation, it means they probably don’t want too much of it lopped off? Neither did I – but Lucy does; and these subconscious signals inform the decisions she makes for her clients’ cuts. “Meg showed me pictures of very subtle colour; easy maintenance and condition were the main concerns so we decided we could achieve this by using mainly tint, and add little pops of free-hand bleach”, said Lucy. “Meg wanted to keep a lot of the length as she’s got beautiful curls, but I advised for the thickness of her hair she would get the most of it if she went just below shoulders to add more volume and make her feel like the hair was more styled. Grown-out colour and a long bob were decided as
“BME means to be the ‘Best Me’”
the best options for Meg.” Having agreed on our plan of action, Lucy got to work, and I watched as she artfully wove strands of hair and dabbed them with colour, marvelling at the intricacy of the whole process. After sitting with a head full of foils and another hot beverage, the real luxury began when I was summoned to the sink. As someone who’s a bit of a stranger to salons, I was expecting my hair to get a quick rinse down and a rough towel dry. So the coma-inducing head massage and hot towel treatment came as a surprise – and I’d go back for those alone. The final cut and dry is always the bit where I get worked up and fret over the end result, but by this point I had full faith in the process. Just as promised, the long bob really lifted my hair, and gave it a weightless bouncy volume – assisted by the subtle highlights that complemented my natural hair colour perfectly. I left the salon armed with haircare products feeling thoroughly pampered and, well, like the best version of myself. The proof ’s in the name; now can someone point me in the direction of a red carpet I can strut down? n For more: www.bmesalon.co.uk
ASK THE STYLIST
How can I get my mane in tip-top shape for summer? “Winter and summer months can leave hair dry, static, and bleached. So make sure you up your hair care routine coming up to these months. Hair is similar to skin, so don’t forget to step up to a treatment mask, oil or extra moisturising products. Having in salon treatments when you don’t have time to do them at home is also a time saving way to look after your locks.” Lucy, BME Salon
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 85
