ELLE's Guide To Community-Focused Hair Salons, Special Treatments And Beyond

Oct 29, 2024

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They're a cut above the rest

Beyond offering impeccable cuts and showstopping colour, ELLE takes a closer look at the salons that work hard to nurture a thriving community. Plus, the outposts offering special treatments, the head spas to book into and the best hairstylist-led products. Your great hair day starts here.

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The Community...High-flying jet-setters.

What To Expect...With a focus on privacy and luxury, the serene interior of Josh Wood’s atelier is designed to replicate that of an exclusive members’ club. Wood’s dream team of colourists are renowned for delivering seamless, hyper-polished results. Despite its elite reputation and scores of A-list clients, the Holland Park salon is truly welcoming, and every hair consultation is handled with care and warmth.

Ask For...An enhancing gloss. This semi-permanent colour service seriously boosts your shine. joshwoodcolour.com

The Community...Eco-conscious Brighton locals.What To Expect...Clad in stylish retro decor, Whip is a hair salon and then some. A stone’s throw from the seafront, this multifaceted venue offers sustainable, inclusive and expressive hairdressing by day and evolves into a creative community hub at night. In a constant state of collaboration with neighbouring small businesses, the space hosts numerous photography and art exhibitions, live-music sessions and local networking events.

Ask For...Something bold: think choppy, 1970s-style cuts. whiplondon.co.uk

The Community...Manchester creatives.

What To Expect...Originally an Instagram page aiming to connect the city’s Black population with beauty specialists, this co-working studio now empowers independent beauticians and stylists. You can book an appointment with the collective’s range of braid, wig, weave, loc and nail experts directly via its page, and also link up with the local community via masterclasses, open mic nights and book clubs.

Ask For...Braids, locs and twists, all offered by a host of talented local hair professionals. black-owned.co.uk

The Community...Well-heeled Londoners.

What To Expect...‘From influencers and celebrities to clients simply seeking a great luxury experience, I’ve always felt the salon represents a mix of individuals who value both style and the overall quality of their experience,’ says Luke Hersheson. A one-stop shop for a full aesthetic MOT, Hershesons is the ultimate 360-beauty destination that transcends the world of cuts and blow dries. Here, you’ll find not only the best stylists, but also DryBy nails, skin treatments by Sunday Riley and Dr Barbara Sturm, eyebrows by Suman London and light therapy by The Light Salon. It’s no wonder locals have flocked there since 1992.

Ask For...Hershesons’ signature. A flawless Chelsea blow-dry is the salon’s sleek trademark style. hershesons.com

The Community...Beauty editors and fragrance fiends.

What To Expect...Inspired by Adam Reed’s own mental-health journey, Arkive offers its clients a safe space to be as peaceful or productive as they like within an environment that mirrors the hair-stylist’s authentic approach. In the Covent Garden flagship, you’ll find homely interiors complete with personal mementos and an impressive perfume section featuring Reed’s extensive collection.

Ask For...Arkive’s Curated Colour, which is tailor-made to create your most flattering shade. arkivebyadamreed.com

The Community...Authors, culture power players and thought leaders.

What To Expect...Situated on Portobello Road, Charlotte Mensah’s award-winning Hair Lounge is frequented by loyal clients from all over the country who come for Mensah’s delicious cakes and stay for her expertise in Afro haircare and styling. Mensah is also the founder of Love Naa Densua, a global foundation that offers business and hair-styling mentorships to young people around the world. ‘One of the charms of Hair Lounge is the cosmopolitan mix of clients and the wide-ranging, meaningful conversations that often unfold,’ says Mensah. ‘And what brings everyone together? A cup of tea and a slice of Charlotte’s famous pound cake.’

Ask For...A detoxifying and stress-alleviating Manketti Oil Salt Scrub Treatment to unclog hair follicles, nourish strands and stimulate blood flow. charlottemensah.com

The Community...London’s creative scene.

What To Expect...‘At its core, Sta Studios is all about fostering creativity and community within the hair industry. We’ve built a brand that’s synonymous with high-quality education and a forward-thinking approach to hair,’ says founder Samantha Cusick. On a mission to empower freelance stylists, Sta Studios was created to provide an infrastructure for independent artists and represent them as individual brands. Among its members, you’ll discover a collective of unique specialists, ranging from experts in bleach and balayage to hair pros with a knack for wolf cuts and extreme colour.

Ask For...A hairdresser for life, or a one-off appointment with a skilled professional for a complete hair reset. sta-studios.com

The Community...The capital’s fashion crowd.

What To Expect...A favourite of editors and stylish celebs alike, this salon has garnered a star-studded roster of clients, from Alexa Chung to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. The allure? Northwood’s ability to create the ultimate undone ‘cool girl’ look.

Both the Wells Street flagship and the Shoreditch location feature elegant interiors that mix mid-century furniture with one-off pieces. ‘We are constantly thinking about ways we can provide inspiration and guidance to our existing and new clients, making sure they’re always ahead of the trends,’ says Northwood.

Ask For...An effortless trim, or the coveted boyfriend bob. georgenorthwood.com

The trailblazing, cult-favourite salons making a mark around the UK.

For The Eco-Conscious...The B-corp certified Cuttlefish salon uses sustainable practices and products. cuttlefishecosalons.com

For Extensions...Hadley Yates Salon promises longer, natural-looking lengths. hadleyyatessalon.com

For Braids...Braids By Stephnie offers sleek, intricate designs in Manchester. instagram.com/braids_by_stephnie

For Keratin...The Aura Smoothing Treatment at Loch Salon calms frizz and resores shine. thelochsalon.com

For Cuts..The Hair Bros works with your natural style and texture for a low-maintenance finish. thehairbros.com

For Blondes...Stil Salon London has mastered the art of the cool, Scandi-blonde. stil-salon.com

For Quiet Appointments...Riot Hearts, Manchester. riothearts.co.uk

For Cuts With Cocktails...Taylor Taylor London, Shoreditch. taylortaylorlondon.com

For A Hijab-Friendly Space...Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa, Covent Garden. aveda.co.uk

For Mirrorless Styling...Not Another Salon, London. notanothersalon.com

For Clip-In Installations...Ruka Curl Bar, Selfridges. rukahair.com

For Extra Massages...Hari's Salon, various locations. harissalon.com

How to make the most out of your next appointment, according to the pros...

Josh Wood: ‘When it comes to inspiration, it can come from anywhere: fashion, art exhibitions and even walking the dog through the countryside.'

Luke Hersheson: ‘Remember, what one person considers “short” might be the perfect “long” for someone else, and one person’s “ashy” could be another’s radiant “yellow”. Hair is personal and subjective. It’s a canvas that reflects your unique essence, so it’s important to embrace that.’

Adam Reed: ‘We’re always inspired by the individuality each client brings through our doors. We’ve built a community rooted in care and connection, so for us, it’s all about nurturing your mind and mood while perfecting your own unique style.’

Samantha Cusick: ‘Stay true to yourself when it comes to your style. The key is to find what resonates with you personally. When you come in for an appointment, think about what makes you feel confident and empowered. As hairdressers, we are here to help you bring that vision to life, but it all starts with understanding what feels authentically “you”.’

Alex Brownsell: ‘Anything goes when you’re looking for inspiration for your next style. It might be a celebrity muse, a TikTok trend, or an old film reference. I always recommend taking some image references to your stylist and having a consultation before committing to your colour.’

Charlotte Mensah: 'Be honest about where you are on your hair-care journey – what you’re proud of and any mistakes you’ve made along the way.’

Quick 15-minute add-ons at the salon are all well and good, but for a thorough rejuvenation, book a pampering scalp facial. Sessions include an in-depth consultation and a multi-step procedure designed to improve scalp health.

Founder Judy Koloko and her team of trichologist-trained experts provide an array of elevated treatments specialising in Black hair (but equally excellent for all textures). From silk-press services to braiding and weaving, The Steam Bar offers a deep cleansing service to ensure your scalp stays in top condition. thesteambar.com

Beauty editors are flocking to this Mayfair flagship for its stylish interiors and even more luxurious hair packages. Immersive and brilliantly executed, the hair treatments feature formulas that promise to clarify and nurture the scalp while delivering swishy lengths. sisley-paris.com

Tackling dandruff and excess oil has never looked (and felt) as cosseting as it does at The Health Spa. The process involves a scalp analysis, active serums, herbal steam and an LED scalp brush, alongside restorative massages. cloudtwelve.co.uk

Combining head reflexology (to encourage circulation) and a generous shoulder massage with a Japanese tsubaki-oil treatment, this 45-minute session will leave you with softer hair and a refreshed scalp. hiromiyoshi.com

With healing ayurvedic principles at its core, the Head & Hair Massage boosts circulation and stimulates lymphatic drainage in the head, neck and shoulders. As well as nourishing your strands, this treatment aims to improve tension and sleep, and ease headaches. kamaayurveda.com

These stylist-approved products are the next-best thing to having an A-list hair expert on speed dial.

Simultaneously softens strands and tames flyaways.

Provides protection and hold even for fine hair.

Clarifies without stripping the scalp.

Nourishes curls and leavesthem extra-glossy.

This formula restores shine and refreshes second-day coils.

Removes daily grime while maintaining softness.

Adds body and texture, without the crunch.

Delivers hydration minus the extra weight.

All the volume of a nineties supermodel.

The quickest way to a smooth, polished finish.

ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.

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