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The Best London Hair Salons For A Spring Refresh
We've done the hard work for you.
Whether it's in response to getting a new job, coming out the other side of a break-up or just wanting to mix up your current look, getting a haircut is the way to give yourself a much-needed boost. We don't make the rules. But when such a huge undertaking is put into the hands of a stranger, how can you ensure that you emerge looking and feeling your best?
Here at ELLE we've tried and tested a lot of hair salons (and a conveyer belt of hairstyles to boot), so to help ensure you also get the hair of your dreams, we've rounded up the very best hair salons London has to offer - just in time for a spring refresh.
Gielly Green, Marylebone
A short walk from Baker Street you'll find Gielly Green, a multi-story beauty hotspot that offers mani-pedis, acupuncture, massages, brow treatments, and of course, all things hair. The expert team is welcoming and never fails to put you and your lifestyle first, and is honest (and kind) when it comes to suggesting what works best for you and your hair. You'll leave looking and feeling better than when you came in.
Haug London Haus, Fitzrovia
Despite its buzzy central location in Fitzrovia, Haug London Haus feels like a hidden gem with its mid-century designs by Erik Munro. The calming interior is matched with warm welcomes and an incredibly experienced team, ensuring a flawless experience from start to finish.
Founders Siobhan and Philip Haug gave one ELLE writer a total transformation that could only be described as impeccably cool and polished; you're in good hands here.
Beauty Club London, Oxford Street
Tucked just off bustling Oxford Street you'll find Beauty Club London, a one-stop boutique for hair, nails and lashes. In-house pro Shady Harb is a wiz at balayage and is a dream for brunette tresses in need of a colour zhush while Louise Bailey is the insider's go-to for natural-looking extensions. It's a great spot for a quick blow-dry in the city, too.
Taylor Taylor, various locations
Walking into the maximalist space of Taylor Taylor offers an escape from the humdrum of the everyday. Depending on your hair's needs, the salon offers a pre-trim treatment to restore it back to health. Taylor Taylor offers excellent cut and colour, but do ask the team any of your pressing hair questions; they're brilliant at offering practical, easy-to-follow advice without pushing products.
Adam Reed, Covent Garden
If you're not already familiar with Adam Reed's innovative 'head care' approach to styling, you might know him from his affordable yet effect line of products, Arkive. Sensorial scents and a wellbeing first ethos sit at the heart of the brand, with each Adam Reed salon space adopting that same comforting mentality.
With an ever welcoming team and a warm, vibrant interior, you wouldn't believe that this homely space, decked out with Reed's favourite things, is nestled right in the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden. Subverting the mundane chain aesthetic, this luxe salon is decked floor to ceiling in charming collectables and a pleasing tonal palette.
Whether you're looking for a swish professional cut over a cup of tea, or a mirrorless maintenance trim, this brand new space is client-centric without ever compromising on your fresh summer 'do.
GA Salons, various locations
Headed by Italian hairstylist Gennaro Dell'Aquila, GA salons focuses on using only the gentlest formula on your locks. The salon custom blend all its hair colours using flower and plant-derived dyes, while shelves are lined with eco-driven haircare brand, Oway. Stepping into the wood-panelled salon feels equal parts luxurious and cosy, and one ELLE staffer left with an impossibly shiny, healthy-looking blow dry.
The Loch, Brook Green
When lockdown spurred former Aveda creative directors Richard and Louise to leave the pace of their supersalon background behind, they set about to create exactly the kind of environment they wanted to work in, where the craft itself takes centre stage.
Nestled on a leafy Brook Green street, The Loch is a bright, laid-back studio where you’ll feel immediately at home. The team comprises four stylists, who can cater for just about any hair request. Transformative curly cuts, flawless balayage, creative colour and some of the best hair extensions in London are all on the menu here.
Neil Moodie Studio, Spitalfields
With architects Charles Eames and John Lautner as a reference point for its interior design, Neil Moodie Studio in Spitalfields is plush and inviting without being intimidating (the chairs are some of the most comfortable ones we've sat in).
Moodie's a seasoned pro within the fashion week circuit, so the team has refined the art of translating current trends into real life, all while taking into account your styling habits and lifestyle. Sustainability is at the heart of the studio; the space is mainly done up in recycled and upcycled materials, and there are no single use gloves or water bottles. Pricing is gender-neutral too.
Larry King, South Kensington
Larry King's South Kensington salon is bustling, inviting, and full of a whole spectrum of clients from local, well-heeled ladies to handsome celebrities (hello, David Gandy).
With a diverse clientele, there's no 'signature' style, but it is a great choice for those looking for a cool-girl cut or relaxed but long-lasting blow dry, and they have curly hair specialists too. For colour they're especially skilled at blonds (from a natural highlight to platinum ice queen).
Josh Wood at Claridges Hotel and Notting Hill
Nestled in the impossibly zen space of Claridges Spa is the Josh Wood residency and the experience doesn't get any swankier than this. The salon only takes in one client at a time so rest assured, you have the stylist's full attention on your tresses. Whether you're after a fresh haircut or a bouncy blow-dry, the renowned Josh Wood hairstylists will have you sorted. Those staying at the hotel can even ask for an in-room session.
For colour appointments, the flagship Notting Hill salon is still the place to go. No hustle and bustle in this cosy space, just a calm, soul-soothing experience that's completely tailored to your needs (without being at all intimidating). Plus, the reclining chair by the hair wash area is the most comfortable one we've ever sat in.
Percy & Reed, Great Portland Street
Renowned hairdresser Paul Percival first opened the salon on Great Portland Street in 2007, and it’s been tending to the tresses of London’s most discerning clients ever since. Regulars range from celebrities and high-profile businesswomen to hip, in-the-know locals, who come for the decades-spanning expertise and stay for the cruelty-free products, laidback vibes and legendary brownies.
In fact the set-up is far more stylish home than hair salon: think teal walls, exposed brick details, moody lighting, plush leather sofas and tea (or bubbles) on tap. The glossy, bouncy, healthy hair you emerge with is just the cherry on top.
Limoz Logli, Chelsea
Hair colourist extraordinaire Limoz, who has tended to many a celeb, opened his new, bigger salon last year in a beautiful location in South Kensington. The venue itself is an incredibly curated space, with rich marble styling stations and spartan shelves with objets d'art carefully placed within them, so if you're looking for some zen in the middle of a hectic day, it's got mental clarity on tap.
And as for the options on offer, this is the place to shell out on if you've made colour mistakes in the past and are desperate to see your hair returned to its former glory, you want a total refresh for the new season or you just want to know that your highlights are in safe hands. From honey blondes to flamboyage or even just a gloss to lift dull locks to a shinier state, Limoz Logli will keep you on trend and feeling great.
STIL Salon, Notting Hill and Chelsea
After the huge success of her first Notting Hill based salon, Christel Barron-Hough has opened a sister salon in Chelsea. The space is a Scandi-inspired oasis of calm, with bright and inviting minimalist decor.
Specialising in colour, those who are looking for a precisely tailored approach won't find anyone more attentive than Barron-Hough and her team, who start each appointment with a one-to-one consultation to discuss which shades will best compliment your undertones and features. With the team's in-depth expertise and calm atmosphere, you'll leave your appointment feeling the same kind of zen you'd expect after an hour long massage.
George Northwood, Fitzrovia and Shoreditch
As the skilled hands behind some of the most iconic celebrity hairstyles (Alexa Chung and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are longstanding loyalists), George Northwood has become the master of bobs. Subsequently, his namesake salon nestled in Soho has become the port of call for those seeking a shorter chop, with a team trained under Northwood's meticulous eye for detail. They understand that a haircut should be fun, modern and elevate your confidence, meaning you'll feel all your hair anxiety melt away as soon as you're sat down in the salon chair.
Butchers Salon, various locations
Inclusivity and sustainability go hand in hand at Butchers salon. Specialising in the coolest and cutting-edge styles, there'll be no butchering here, just carefully personalised consultations and cuts to elevate your individuality.
Butchers' third salon opened last year in Camden and continues to drive forward eco-conscious values; everything from the decor to the refreshments served and the products used have been carefully chosen to ensure the salon is as sustainable as possible, and they've even partnered with Tree Sisters Official to plant one tree for every customer and offset their carbon emissions.
Hershesons, Fitzrovia and Belgravia
After nearly thirty years of building a legacy in the hair industry, Luke and Daniel Hersheson have not only seen the landscape evolve but have always been at the forefront of its expansion into new territories. Their newest flagship in Belgravia isn't just a salon, it's a whole beauty destination.
Go for the highly coveted Hershesons cut, stay for the sharp yet elegant decor, and then stay a while longer to discover Sarah Bradden's accupuncture facials or a DryBy manicure. It's a fantastical cobalt blue fairground of beauty.
Blue Tit, various locations
Previously, our commitments to sustainability haven't been top of the priority list when it comes to choosing our hairdressers. Unfortunately, the nature of a hair salon makes it difficult to get around the water waste and product consumption.
Blue Tit, however, have turned this problem into real change, becoming Europe's first B-Corp certified salon. Just a few of the sustainable efforts the salon has implemented includes using EcoHeads to reduce 1,350,000 litres of water wastage a year, using biodegradable hair towels and recycling over 95% of its waste. Blue Tit's 10 salons across the city (Greenwich is their latest spot) are kitted out in a super sleek urban jungle decor that reflects the style of each neighbourhood, so the most difficult part will be choosing which one to visit first.
Charlotte Mensah's Hair Lounge, Notting Hill
If you're looking to relax and rejuvenate while leaving your hair in the hands of award-winning hairstylists, look no further than Hair Lounge. Founded by the iconic hair stylist Charlotte Mensah, the bright and serene Notting Hill salon sees loyal clients returning again and again for bespoke afro and textured hair styling with Mensah's Manketti Oil range. Why not indulge in a signature salt scrub treatment while you're there too?
The Bohemians, Deptford
Head south of the river and you'll find The Bohemians, a salon set in an airy space with a rustic touch. As you might be able to gather from the overall aesthetic, this team approaches hair a little differently. From using organic and ammonia-free hair colour and bleach, to a gender-neutral pricing list, The Bohemians represents the next generation of hair salons.
Bleach London, various locations
Always see people walking around London with rainbow coloured hair and wonder how they achieved it? We'd put our money on Bleach. The disruptive salon is all about achieving self expression through your hair, so whether you're looking to experiment with fashion's latest colour obsession (kermit green, anyone?) or looking to absolutely nail your perfect blonde moment, this is the salon to visit.
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