The Caviar Cure at Neville Hair & Beauty

What makes a hair stylist rise to ‘celebrity hairdresser’ fame? Some of London’s greatest coiffeurs have done so by creating signature looks that capture an era, others make a name for themselves as the behind-the-scenes geniuses responsible for making VIPs look effortlessly glamorous.

Neville Hair & Beauty, the Belgravia salon owned by Neville Tucker, is a London institution for the latter. This is the go-to beauty parlour for anyone who’s anyone, from ladies who lunch to TV stars, models and singers such as Holly Willoughby, Petra Nemcova and Mollie King. Oh, and the royals; Neville’s previous salon held a royal warrant, and he is still at the beck and call of some of the blue-blooded family.

The process

I was given a warm welcome by beauty therapist Paolo Lai, who talked me through the Caviar Cure. It’s an hour-long Kérastase treatment designed to strengthen the hair fibres, as well as soothing and hydrating the scalp.

Paolo washed my hair with Avalon organic peppermint shampoo before applying the caviar masque and pearls that are packed with ceramides, vitamins A and E, antioxidants and protein. My hair is then wrapped in a bag attached to a steamer, and for the next 20 minutes I watch in amusement as my puffy new headgear makes me look like a mushroom letting off steam.

Next it’s time for Jack Merrick-Thirlway, a hair stylist so in demand he is represented by a talent agency, to work his magic. I tell him I feel my almost waist-length hair needs a good chop. He wholeheartedly agrees and suggests shaping it around the front to open up the face. Initially I’m not sure about this as I like it all one length, but I decide to be brave.

Maybe it’s Jack’s infectious energy, but I don’t even flinch as six inches comes off the length. When he’s done, my head feels lighter and I look years younger. Maybe it’s all in the mind because I had a similar cut in my mid-twenties, but it’s the change I was looking for.

​The results