TRUE GRIT

When faced with redundancy or reinventing her career, there was little doubt that South London, British stylist, Marney Lian would use her trademark ambition to launch her own salon and make it a runaway success story. We chatted to Marney to find out how Gritt London, in the UK, represents the determination it took to bring her dream to life.

While some hairdressers were using lockdown as a time to pause and reset, Marney Lian was planning the launch of her first salon, Gritt. “I had already been thinking about opening my own business when I found out the salon I worked at was closing,” Marney explains. “It was right in the middle of the pandemic, and I’d only looked into my options very briefly. I wasn’t planning anything so soon and definitely not in these circumstances.”

When the opportunity came though, it was a do or die moment. “Everyone around me was warning me against opening my own salon but I never had a doubt,” Marney says. “In fact, looking back, I don’t think I even stopped for a second to think yes or no. Either way, if I didn’t go for it, I’d be out of work – no job and no one was recruiting during Covid. I knew I had to make it work but due to the situation, I didn’t know when - or even if - we would open our doors.”

Marney has been hairdressing since the age of 14 and an instinctive talent runs through her veins. Technically proficient, she’s got a L’Oréal Colour Degree and hosts L’Oréal courses as a guest artist. Aside from the formal training, she has that unmistakable natural gift for hair.

The way she sees it and reads it so effortlessly is rare. No wonder clients describe her as a colour genius and her social feed is awash with colour transformations that take your breath away.

Growing up in a salon from such a young age, Marney also knew exactly what it would take to make Gritt the perfect operational space. “While it has a high-end feel, every detail of the salon is practical and designed to create a workable environment,” she explains. “We’re a calm salon with a good, positive energy.

It’s a ‘settle in and relax’ kind of place and we’ve thought of every detail – things such as tech points at every chair and we’re a deliberately clutter-free space so the client feels calm and relaxed. Free drinks are ordered through our app, and we create bespoke hair home packages so that aftercare is seamless.”

With a character that can be best described as determined and self-assured, Marney sets herself near-impossible standards. But she meets them. While she was clear on every aspect of her vision for the salon, she credits her business partner Charles as pivotal to bringing it to life.

“One thing I’ve learnt is that you need the right people around you. I went to my friend Charles and said, ‘I need someone to help me run the business while I focus on the shop floor.’ Thankfully, he saw it as a golden opportunity, and he’s been my support ever since – taking care of the bigger vision and getting us where we need to go.

He focuses on the admin and finances, which means I get to work how I want to work without having the worry of all that.”

Charles was instrumental in the salon design and by his admission, when it came to the lighting, he was OBSESSED. “Charles even went on a course so he could learn more about all the ins and outs of lighting design,” Marney laughs. “It’s such a fundamental aspect but so many salons get it wrong. Colour is created under harsh unnatural light and then when the client gets outside, it’s nothing like the stylist intended it to be.”

At Gritt, Marney and Charles used a combination of overhead ring lights and soft, contouring LED backlights on the mirrors to create lighting that is functional and real but makes the client look great too. Each light has its own unique rendering to compensate for how much daylight the space under it captures. It took a lot of experimentation to get it right, but the result is perfect.

Marney was also adamant that Gritt would be an inclusive place that would allow all her team to shine. “It was a conscious decision that the salon wouldn’t be named after me. I wanted to create a brand – a place that people could grow and have a voice.

I want all my stylists to be able to build themselves a career in their own right but be supported by us as the business. I’m the co-owner but first and foremost, I’m part of the team.”

Business partner Charles describes Marney as the most committed individual he’s met. “Marney is honestly one of the most ridiculously hard working and talented people I’ve ever come across. She’s so passionate about what she does, and she has the technical ability and insight to back it up. She’s a great leader – hands-on on the shop floor but inspirational in her approach.”

With Marney at the helm, Gritt has certainly caught its fair share of attention. The team reached the semi-final in three categories at the L’Oréal Colour Trophy 2022 and went on to reach the Grand Finals. Marney has appeared at Fashion Week, Colour World 2022 and she’s been profiled in the hair press.

Gritt was named London Salon of the Year at the Hair Awards 2023; Best London Salon at the Salon Awards 2022, and Marney made the finals of the British Hairdressing Awards 2022 in the category of London Hairdresser of the Year. The same collection was shortlisted in the Fellowship Image of the Year Award 2022.

Marney’s passion extends further than the salon doors though. Keen to grow the brand and explore many more creative opportunities, she’s also using her voice for a grassroots cause. “To be honest, the most pressing concern for our industry right now is finding ways to bring good, fresh talent into hairdressing,” she says. “It’s something I’m passionate about, so I’ve been linking up with local schools and colleges to find ways of working more closely together.

Good quality education and training has to be at the forefront, and we have to do something about it. Ideally, I’d like to find a way to back people from our local community who show great potential.”

You’d be hard pushed to meet anyone with more tenacity and drive than Marney Lian. With her resolve behind it, you should watch out for Gritt – it’s a name that’s destined for big things.