What They Say
Bringing luxury to the high street, Edward James Salons offer award-winning colouring and styling services across our boutique locations. Multi-award-winning hairdresser Edward James and his team of hair experts understand how to create a first-class salon experience specifically for you.
Their experienced stylists undergo constant training to ensure that they are up to date with the latest cutting, texturising and heat styling techniques as well as the market-leading styling and maintenance products. What sets them apart is that they want you to not only leave the salon looking and feeling amazing but also understand how to manage your hair at home. Educating clients on how to get the best from their hair is part of the service – giving you techniques and methods that are practical and efficient.
The Edward James team is committed to creating a look with you that you love and an experience that you’ll brag about to all of your friends. With locations in Edward James Battersea, Edward James Balham, Edward James Putney, and Edward James Richmond.
The Process
When picking a salon, you want to know about the experience of the team, the products, and maybe their reputation. What isn’t high on the list is great decor, but it certainly helps. Edward James doesn’t like the clinical look of a lot of traditional salons and has curated something on-brand but unique for every salon he opens. In Richmond, he designed the entire thing himself, and there’s a story behind everything; from the oversized lampshades to theatrical mirror lights around the shop windows. Black woodwork meets marble and signature tree trunks. It’s the perfect combination of fun and classy. I could spend all day in here.
And thank goodness, because I am here for the full works. I meet Ed, who is charming, down to earth and gives off the impression that (although evidently in demand across the salon floor) he has all the time in the world for me. We break the ice with chitchat before discussing my unruly hair.
I’d had my hair done a few months before and was left with yellow tones, patchy streaks and grown-out roots. Ed points out inconsistencies in the colour at the back of my head, where different colourists have gone over the hair with different techniques. I describe the colour I want and Ed shows me the exact shade I’m describing with a picture of a model on his phone.
We discuss my hair’s texture – wavy, with a tendency to be straighter on top and – after day 2 of a blowdry – unruly and fuzzy underneath. Ed suggests a Keratin British Blowdry to defrizz and also to smooth out – but not completely annihilate – the curl. The British Blowdry only focuses on the underneath of the hair, as opposed to the entire lot, as you would with a Brazilian Blowdry. I am very excited about this! I’d always accepted that frizz is just what my hair does, and the prospect of fixing it was something I’d never even considered.
I’m pampered with a 3-Minute De-Stress Massage to start things off. I’m then greeted by the charming Mide, who applies the Keratin treatment to the underneath of my hair. She tells me that this is a family-run business – she’s the manager at one of Ed’s other salons and was the first person to be employed! Her children also work at the salon.
Next, we move onto the main event: a full head of highlights to get rid of the yellow and streaks, blended at the route to avoid any obvious regrowth, a slightly lighter shade applied at the front, and a root tap to allow the hair to grow out even more naturally. This is then followed by a toner and hair treatment.
Halfway through, I’m presented with a large glass of Prosecco (it’s past 3 pm after all) and we get to work on the cut – a simple trim with very light layering. The look is finished off with a classic sweeping Bardot-style fringe.
We then talk about styling. Ed recommends a light oil serum for my hair, in particular, something with heat protectant in it. He also suggests Pureology Strength Cure Blonde Shampoo once a week (which he does sell at the salon). Ed then sends me home with his signature candle – a rich scent of Velvet Rose and Oud.
I leave the salon with a huge smile on my face, feeling utterly pampered and slightly giddy from the Prosecco.
The Results
I couldn’t be happier with my colour and cut, a sleek, pearly blonde with a perfect wispy fringe. Plus, when I wake up in the morning (expecting the underneath of my hair to have crumpled and curled) my hair is still smooth, maybe there’s a tiny whisper of a curl, but it’s wearable from the get-go. I’m stunned. This is a complete game changer for me, and something I would never have considered if Ed hadn’t suggested it. All in all, it was an afternoon well spent and, yes, I will be bragging about it to my friends.
The Details
A Full Head of highlights with Ed is £222, or from £112 with a new stylist.
A British Blowdry With Ed is £213, or from £100 with a new stylist.
15 Hill Street, London, TW9 1SX; 0203 978 4430; richmond@edwardjameslondon.com
Edward James Salons are also partnered with The Hair Consult, a service that provides hair consultations and advice for treating your hair with salon-level expertise.
