Picking a hair salon when you move somewhere new can be an absolute nightmare. I was spoilt rotten at my old salon and have come to expect a lot. Moving to London, the hunt was on for a replacement, and after the great service I received when I tried the Biolustre treatment at Paul Edmonds, I decided to go back there for my cut and colour.
The salon is in Knightsbridge, which should give some indication of the prices they charge. However I'm a big believer in splashing out on a good hairdo and would happily pay a small fortune for a great finish from a friendly stylist. In the past I've gone home with a burnt scalp, a butchered fringe, bright yellow highlights (ok, I did that myself) and even a bob when I asked for a trim...now I'm more than willing to empty my wallet to get the right result.
Did I get it this time? Keep reading for the full review and those all-important 'after' photos!
The Paul Edmonds salon cleverly manages to sit somewhere the line between small and friendly and super-swanky. It's comfortably chic without being pretentious, and you feel at home very soon after walking in the door. There are no private rooms or celeb areas; everyone gets the same treatment and Paul himself works on the salon floor with everyone else.
My colour came first, and Sandra was in charge of turning me from a faded mouse with three inches of regrowth into a natural, Hollywood-esque blonde. There was a long consultation where we discussed what I wanted, how that could be acheived and what the outcome would be. I was eager to avoid the brassy yellow tinge that so many blondes end up with, so we decided on a light ash blonde, a darker, warmer shade, and a few lowlights to break up the colour. Since my hair is ridiculously thick and long, putting the colour in seemed to take forever (doesn't it always) but I've never seen so much attention being paid to exactly where the highlights were being placed, especially around the front, framing the face and hiding my cowlick.
Once the colour was applied and my hair washed, I joined Adrienne for my cut - essentially a trim to tidy up the mess I'd been left with at the last place in London I tried on a whim. She agreed that the layering around my face was - for want of another word - crap, especially a month after the original chop. My sideswept fringe was re-cut without the harsh lines (I had to get out of my chair stand up for this part of the cut, which was interesting) then the sides were re-shaped to match. I've never seen anyone cut my hair so quickly, but the results didn't seem rushed, just the result of a stylist who knows exactly what they're doing.
What I was most impressed with at this salon was the friendly, laid-back approach and the attention that was paid to making my hair perfect. Because my hair is long and thick I've often been made to feel guilty for the fact that colouring, cutting and blow-drying takes longer with me than it does with most clients. Here, it wasn't an issue. In fact Sandra made me feel like colouring long, thick hair was her favourite thing to do - and she stopped around to check the colour once my cut and blow-dry was finished, which I really appreciated. There was no hard sell, nobody tried to flog me piles of product, and most importantly, nobody tried to tell me I didn't know my own hair. I was given good advice, but my thoughts and concerns were listened to and I didn't feel pushed to try anything I wasn't sure about. So often at 'trendy' salons you ask for one thing and come out with something completely different because the stylist got bored / scissor-happy / over excited.
I think you can only truly judge a good cut and colour about a month after you've had them, once you've had time to get used to the changes and work with them, that's why the photos below show my hair now, and not the day it was cut. Because of the easy-care cut I can do a passable blow-dry in ten minutes (ok, fifteen if I don't want the waves you can see in the back view). Even the men in my life have commented on how great my colour is and how natural it looks (a minor miracle, trust me). The biggest plus for me is the colour around the hairline. The lightest strands surround my face, meaning when I tie my hair back it looks really sun-kissed. I'm not sure I'll love this quite so much when my roots are half an inch long, but right now I adore it!
I'd definitely recommend Paul Edmonds to those who love a bit of pampering without feeling patronised. The staff are friendly and definitely know their stuff, and the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed while remaining professional. The only downside is the hefty price you'll pay for the five star treatment, but as far as I'm concerned it was definitely worth it and I'll definitely be going back!
Paul Edmonds is located at 166 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London, SW3 1HW . Tel: 020 7589 5958 for appointments.
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