There is no finer tonic for picking yourself up out of a January fug than indulging in an afternoon at the salon; be it a pampering deep condition and blow dry or a full on cut and colour, you’re guaranteed to leave perked up and feeling fabulous. Being the hair chameleon that I am, I recently did just that, paying an inaugural visit to the iconic Errol Douglas salon in Belgravia.
Nestled along the cobbles of Motcomb Street, a stone’s throw from Knightsbridge, the salon is a haven of chic; a door framed in topiary welcomes you into a world of glossy magazines and glossier manes. With an MBE for education and services to the hairdressing industry, Errol is widely considered to be one of the most influential hairdressers in the world and with 30 years in the business he has built up an enviable reputation and client list, not to mention a a cabinet full of awards, while his session styling and fashion work has been in every prestigious magazine you can think of.
My journey initially began with a colour consultation and patch test with head of colour Jessica Speechly, a sunny Canadian snow angel in rubber gloves. After a summer of highlights and a slightly dodgy at home dye job, the conclusion was that the ends of my boob-length hair were looking a little green (never ideal…) and as well as brightening them up, we would go for a darker, golden, almost slightly chocolatey brown. My only specification was no red or copper tones (I tried it once…never again…) but other than that I gave her free reign.
A few weeks later and I was back in the chair. Upon arrival I was instantly whisked into a gown, and settled with a stack of the latest magazines and a cup of tea before being introduced to the man himself who would be cutting my hair after the colour. For someone who is arguably the biggest name in British hairdressing, Errol was an absolute utter delight. Friendly, welcoming, no ego, no drama, talking to him was just like chatting with my old hairdresser; you know the sort, the one in your home town that you’ve been to every other month since you were a teenager, who always asks how your mum is before you end up gossiping about the girls you went to school with. Being in the presence of Errol is a bit like that, just easy.
In fact, the whole team were cut from the same cloth in that respect. Jessica worked her magic sorting out the green and substituting for chocolate while I pored over the latest copy of Hello/Grazia/Closer, swapping opinions on ‘celebrities’ and stories on our own fashion faux pas. It certainly made a very pleasant change from the somewhat taciturn colourists I have come across in the past, with whom trying to make conversation is akin to getting blood out of a stone… The colour on, I relaxed with yet more mags and more tea, people watching for half an hour (one of my favourite things to do at the hairdresser…) before being thoroughly shampooed followed by a deep conditioning treatment that was blasted under a steamer. Blissful.
Then for the cut. Colour-wise, I’ve tried it all. Since discovering Sun-In aged 13 (I know…I’m sorry…) I have literally been everything from peroxide to nearly black and everything on the spectrum in between. When it comes to cuts however, I’m not so brave. Other than a disastrous ‘Rachel’ cut when I was a teenager (it was cool OK!) and a rather dramatic bob a number of years ago, my hair has been long. Long, straight, and a little layered. Occasionally with a fringe. Having totally, completely and utterly poker straight hair I am aware this doesn’t always do me many favours. Added to which I had left it far too long between cuts meaning that my ends, though by now no longer green, were looking particularly ratty. Step forward Mr Douglas and his expert recommendations, suggesting a good couple of inches off the bottom as well as more layers, particularly around the face, which would help it feel thicker and fuller. Like a magician with scissors, he snipped away whilst we chit-chatted again about this, that and the other, before performing The World’s Best Blow Dry™ with some big Velcro rollers, a little light mousse and a lot of skill (I am still practising at home to try and recreate it) resulting in a barnet that was big, bouncy, voluminous, glossy and oh so chic, with just the right amount of flick. Walking out of the salon I felt like my long-term hair crush Olivia Palermo. Being the consummate professional that he is, Errol had chopped off all the nasty parts and although it was slightly shorter than I am used to, I can’t get over how much thicker and healthier it feels since.
A few weeks in to my new do and I’ve come to the conclusion that being a little shorter it needs a bit more texture – mid-length on me seems to look slightly odd when it’s poker straight. My favourite look at the moment is a tousled wave, like a slightly messier version of the 40s siren hair favoured by the stars of the silver screen. I need a hardcore tong or wand to get any kind of curl to stay in my hair (as well as some good product) and my favourite if the Yogi Big Barrel Hair Wand (£64.95 from www.yogihairwand.com). With a fat barrel tapering from 32mm-25mm it’s ideal for creating big bouncy waves, plus it comes with a heat protective glove, ideal if like me you have lost count of the number of times you have burnt yourself whilst curling your hair.
For a completely five star salon experience, a visit to Errol Douglas really is the ultimate hair Mecca. Be it for a speedy blow dry or an all day indulgence, it’s a given that the team will treat you like royalty no matter where you’ve come from, and you will leave feeling like a princess.
Errol Douglas, 18 Motcomb Street, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 8LB. T: 020 7235 0110 www.erroldouglas.com
Open Monday 9-6pm, Tuesday-Saturday 9-7pm. Closed Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.
Follow Errol and Jessica on Twitter - @ErrolDouglas1 & @jesscolourED
Love Laurel x
