A few weeks ago I was invited to the opening of the new
Jones & Payne hair salon. Set in trendy Shoreditch this salon specialises in contemporary classic cuts, while the stylists are not afraid to take on some more challenging modern styles for both ladies and gentlemen.
The salon interior is spacious, bright, modern and sleek, while retaining a vintage English style. I love the large, gilded mirrors and the attention to detail, such as the little hooks under the tables to hang your bag.
I also like the fact that the 'washing' area is downstairs, away from the prying eyes of passers by. The leather chairs pictured below also have a built in massage function that really helps you relax!
This salon attracts a huge mix of people, from the 'alternative' kids of Shoreditch to City boys. I even bumped into style King Prince Cassius (Esquire's Best Dressed Man 2010).
I was very excited to return to the salon a few weeks later to have my hair cut by Ricky Lee Jones, the head stylist. Normally 'trendy' salons intimidate me a little as I am very boring when it comes to my hair and (if you have read my blog for a while you may know that) I somewhat dread haircuts. Mostly this is because I have had some traumatising experiences in the past, and because my hair is long I know that many hairdressers are always keen to chop it all off. Needless to say it's always sligtly frightening going to a new salon and I was a little apprehensive.
The salon is open till 8pm, which is perfect for us busy girls, so I managed to pop in straight after work. The moment I walked in I was greeted at reception and offered a drink (bubbly to calm the nerves lol). I then had my consultation with Ricky, who was absolutely lovely. He really put me at ease and listened to my ramblings. I explained to him why I hated my previous cut and, though I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted, together we worked out a slight change to my style, which would work well with my curly hair, while adding some more shape and reducing styling time in the mornings.
So here is my bedraggled post-work before picture.
I was then taken downstairs to have my hair washed and felt perfectly pampered throughout. I was even asked what kind of products I preferred using on my hair and what kind of finish I wanted. We decided to go for a Kerastase deep conditioner, which had a beautiful scent and left my hair feeling very smooth and nourished.
During the cut Ricky talked me through everything he was doing, why he was putting certain layers in and where excess weight needed to be taken off. He was absolutely lovely to chat to and made me feel very comfortable. There is nothing worse than a hairdresser snipping away behind your back so that by the time you realise they have secretly given you a bob it is far too late to do anything about it ;). The whole experience was very enjoyable, the atmosphere was relaxed and professional. The appointments are booked with a full hour for each client, which is a world away from some of the 'conveyor belt' salons such as Toni & Guy, where I have always felt like the stylist was rushing to get my hair done.
So here is my little 'after' picture with the lovely Ricky :). I absolutely loved the results! This is definitely the best haircut I have had in a while. It looks much more sleek, while retaining volume and movement, which is exactly what I wanted.
Now, of course any style can look great straight from the salon and the real test comes a few days later once your hair has had some time to settle into it's new cut. Quite often I have initially liked a new haircut, but after washing and styling it myself sometimes the layers just don't sit right and create strange shapes with my natural curls and texture. However, because Ricky took into account that my hair is wavy (and there is a lot of it) I can happily report that this cut has been easy for me to style myself.
Overall, I had a great experience at Jones & Payne and am happy to recommend this salon if you are looking for a new style, or just want to refresh your look. Prices start at £35 for men and £45 for ladies for a cut and finish. If you are interested in finding out more you can find the Jones & Payne salon website
here.
