The Ultimate Guide To London’s Alternative Beauty Scene
London’s salon scene has come of age. No longer the reserve of ladies who lunch with bouffant ‘dos, a new generation of alternative beauty and hair salons has taken over our fair city. And not a moment too soon.
These days, clinical white spaces and awkward chitchat have been usurped by underground hangouts that offer genuinely creative and different treatments, complete with an awesome soundtrack and achingly cool interiors. Whether you’re in the mood for some catwalk nail art or an extreme dye job, these, dear friends, are the joints you need to know.
Blue Tit
Session stylists Andi and Perry came up with the idea of creating “a special place where arty people would like to spend time.” Translated? Chill roof gardens, fresh fruit smoothies, and a delightfully maximalist interior complete with vintage leather armchairs and 700 gossamer-hung light bulbs. Oh, and they’re a dab hand when it comes to dishing out killer cuts. In fact, they’ve recently set up a second salon in Clapton, and we’re told they'll be opening up their third Blue Tit nest this summer...
Where: Blue Tit, 7 Stoke Newington Road, N16 8BH; 020 7254 8538
WAH
Full disclosure: we’re completely obsessed with WAH. Founder Sharmadean Reid’s hipster girl gang dish out mini masterpiece after mini masterpiece; so it’s no surprise that since pitching up in Dalston back in 2008, WAH fever has reached Topshop and beyond. And obviously, we love the Oxford Circus pit stop in Topshop’s Beauty Rooms. It’s perfect for a well-earned shopping break — and they’ll happily coordinate your talons with your new swag.
Where: WAH at Topshop, 214 Oxford Street, W1D 1LA; 020 7927 7844
Bleach London
Bleach London’s Dalston salon has achieved the impossible: It took granny-style blue rinses and made them heart-stoppingly cool; it trailblazed the dip-dye trend; and in fact, the salon has even been known to make a multicoloured perm look ridiculously awesome. The salon’s rainbow-coloured, punked-out approach to hair never fails to put a smile on our face and their client list, including M.I.A, Pixie Geldof, Daisy Lowe and Alice Dellal, reads like a London party scene who’s who. Go there. Now!
Where: Bleach London, 420 Kingsland Road, E8 4AA; 020 7275 9500
Like this post? There's more. Get tons of beauty tips, tutorials, and news on the Refinery29 Beauty Facebook page!
These days, clinical white spaces and awkward chitchat have been usurped by underground hangouts that offer genuinely creative and different treatments, complete with an awesome soundtrack and achingly cool interiors. Whether you’re in the mood for some catwalk nail art or an extreme dye job, these, dear friends, are the joints you need to know.
Blue TitSession stylists Andi and Perry came up with the idea of creating “a special place where arty people would like to spend time.” Translated? Chill roof gardens, fresh fruit smoothies, and a delightfully maximalist interior complete with vintage leather armchairs and 700 gossamer-hung light bulbs. Oh, and they’re a dab hand when it comes to dishing out killer cuts. In fact, they’ve recently set up a second salon in Clapton, and we’re told they'll be opening up their third Blue Tit nest this summer...
Where: Blue Tit, 7 Stoke Newington Road, N16 8BH; 020 7254 8538
WAH
Full disclosure: we’re completely obsessed with WAH. Founder Sharmadean Reid’s hipster girl gang dish out mini masterpiece after mini masterpiece; so it’s no surprise that since pitching up in Dalston back in 2008, WAH fever has reached Topshop and beyond. And obviously, we love the Oxford Circus pit stop in Topshop’s Beauty Rooms. It’s perfect for a well-earned shopping break — and they’ll happily coordinate your talons with your new swag.
Where: WAH at Topshop, 214 Oxford Street, W1D 1LA; 020 7927 7844
Bleach London
Bleach London’s Dalston salon has achieved the impossible: It took granny-style blue rinses and made them heart-stoppingly cool; it trailblazed the dip-dye trend; and in fact, the salon has even been known to make a multicoloured perm look ridiculously awesome. The salon’s rainbow-coloured, punked-out approach to hair never fails to put a smile on our face and their client list, including M.I.A, Pixie Geldof, Daisy Lowe and Alice Dellal, reads like a London party scene who’s who. Go there. Now!
Where: Bleach London, 420 Kingsland Road, E8 4AA; 020 7275 9500
Like this post? There's more. Get tons of beauty tips, tutorials, and news on the Refinery29 Beauty Facebook page!
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