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Daniel Galvin, Marylebone

Daniel Galvin, who first made his mark on the industry in the swinging 60s, is a ‘pioneer of modern hairdressing techniques’ and is proud to be part of a hairdressing dynasty that reaches back to the late 1800’s. In 2006, his personal dedication and influence were formally recognised when he was awarded with an OBE for his ‘contribution to hair colour and the industry’.

I visit the flagship store on a beautiful autumnal day at the end of September. Located in the heart of Marylebone, the George Street salon has been here for more than thirty years. And it’s vast! With nearly eighty workstations and over a hundred staff, the salon and training centre tends the tresses of a hundred-plus clients a day. The upstairs floor, dedicated to the art of ‘colour’ – for which the salon is famed – is bright and spacious with exposed brick walls and interesting artworks. There is a dedicated colour mixing room with an open plan aspect like you might expect in a Michelin-star restaurant and a full-wall water feature that spans two floors. Downstairs; cutting and styling take centre stage; there’s an extension station, training rooms and a fully licensed bar / barista service.

The Consultation

Early in September, I meet with Lani and Tallulah for a patch test and a quick consultation. I tell them (although I’m sure they’ve noticed) that I’m about to have a baby and whilst I fully intend to be as ‘yummy-a-mummy-as-possible’,  I will need a cut and colour that requires little to no maintenance.

Lani, who will be doing a half head of highlights, suggests first and foremost: a root blend. This will make the colour last longer and make regrowth less noticeable in the terrifying, but real, possibility that I don’t make it back to a salon for six months. Tallulah, who will be cutting my hair, takes a similar line and suggests that whilst my side bangs are flattering – since they’ve grown out, it might be wise to connect them to the rest of the cut so that they won’t need additional styling.

At the consultation, I’m given some of Daniel Galvin’s very own Illuminating Shampoo and Double Shine Conditioner to try – the conditioner in particular feels extremely nourishing without being heavy. The products are available to buy in the salon or online here.

The Colour

Lani and I chat everything from house prices to baby names as she gets started on my hair. She works so quickly and meticulously that barely thirty minutes have passed before I have a half-head of immaculately neat foils. She pops me under the heater for a further twenty minutes and checks the progression at five minute intervals. She then removes the foils in stages, ensuring that the colour develops evenly.

When all of the foils have been rinsed – she applies a vitamin c treatment that gives my bleachy lengths some much needed moisture.

The Cut

I have such a lovely chat with Tallulah, that I get swept away in the process and barely notice her fingers moving. Like most of the staff, she trained at the salon and has nothing but positive things to say for her experience. She emphasises the closeness of the relationships she’s built and maintained over the years with her colleagues and mentors – it quickly becomes clear that the Daniel Galvin team are like one big family.

Tallulah effortlessly skims the scissors across the front section of my hair, creating an effect that once blow dried, will add depth and volume to my once lank locks.

The Results

The colour is beautifully creamy, particularly at the front, which brightens up my wintery complexion no end. The cut feels light and bouncy. Gone are the dry, dead ends and most importantly, the two processes sit together really well. There’s plenty of depth of colour and the fresh golden tones are complimented by the new face-framing layers. The overall effect is extremely natural looking – I leave feeling confident, refreshed and ready to take on my brand new chapter in life.

The Details

A half head  of highlights at Daniel Galvin’s Marylebone Salon starts from £204.00, a cut & blow dry from £98.00.

www.danielgalvin.com

58-60 George St, London W1U 7ET

Tried & Tested |