There comes a point in my life, usually every 6 months, when it strikes me that my hair is disgusting. Now don’t get me wrong, I like my hair. I have lots of it which I’ve heard is a good thing, especially from my thin-haired friends, and so far I haven’t found enough white hairs to warrant me dying it. Although picking these out like some oversized monkey is a sport that Tom enjoys greatly. Perhaps it’s payback for all the unsuspecting spots I’ve picked on his back.
With the wedding fast approaching, and deciding to pamper myself before the Big Day, a haircut seemed like a good idea. I did have visions that my next haircut would be a crazy one, maybe I’d get a fringe (although my husband to be always commented that a fringe made me look Chinesey. I’m not sure whether he meant that in a good or a bad way) or dip-dye the bottom (yes yes, I know, that’s so several years ago but that’s the story of my life with fashion). However, the look Stephi (my wedding hair person) gave me when I told her of my hair vision cut me short. She told me a story about a previous bride who had had her hair trial and loved it, then got her hair cut a fraction too short. As a result, there was much stress and tears and sweatiness trying to stretch and shape her hair into what she’d previously had at the trial. This was backed up with the solid advice, ‘don’t try anything new just before your wedding. This goes for fake tans, facials, moisturiser, anything.’
Invited to pay Muse of London a high-end hair salon which exclusively uses TIGI products, just off the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street, I arrived, conflicted. Although this was forgotten as soon as I walked in. Muse of London is a fun place where the only serious conversations are around hair. There’s birdcages, vibrant pictures, a giant SMEG fridge filled with goodies. I didn’t have much time to look around though as Carly, my hairdresser, soon made an appearance. After a quick chat about what I wanted and what would be ‘sensible’ (I’ll be saving that fringe for after the wedding), we agreed that we’d keep the long layers in, take a couple of inches off the bottom to remove the scraggly split-ends and take some of the weight out of it. There’s the obligatory hair wash (who doesn’t love this bit?!) and then Carly got straight to it. Chopity-chop-chop!
There was one time at a hairdressers in Spitalfields where I told the guy, ‘do what you want with it, but keep the length because I’m going to be a bridesmaid at my friend’s wedding’ and promptly fell asleep. I awoke halfway through, slightly startled at the sound of scissors suspiciously close to my right ear. However, I kept my eyes closed and the next time I opened them, I thought I’d cry. I also though my friend whose bridesmaid I was would cry too when she saw it. As it turns out, her mum gave me such a telling off that my friend must have thought this punishment enough and very nicely didn’t say too much about it. But her look did. I left that place with an asymmetrical haircut that started with 1 inch of hair by my right ear and gradually got longer by the time you got to my left ear. From the right, I looked like a boy, and an unattractive one at that, and from the left, I looked like a girl. You can’t hide a haircut like this so I had to go out into the world and pretend I liked it and fend off all the comments I got about me wanting to be a hipster; my calves are too big to fit into any hipster trousers anyway. It’s unsurprising that I don’t fall asleep during haircuts anymore.
Thank you Carly for being lovely and caring with my hair and for your good advice. My hair didn’t look greatly dissimilar to how it looked before (and that was the point) but it felt great: lighter, bouncier, shinier and definitely more healthy. I’ve struggled a bit with my hair since I got it dyed last year (balayage darling) and I’d noticed it’s been dryer than before. So Carly added an intensive deep-conditioning treatment. And curls! I positively bounced out of there – there is something wonderful about leaving a hair salon with a cut you love. The salon uses Tigi products which I’d flirted with previously (when I worked for Unilever and got a good discount) but being a product floozy, I tend to buy what’s on offer, although recently I’ve been using JĀSÖN as I found one that’s gluten-free. Not that I think my hair really cares. The best bit about Tigi is that it smells great. And this is generally how I rate my hair products.
Before & After. Look at my curls!
I’m told that Muse of London’s expertise lies in their colouring, something which I’m sad to have not experienced yet. Don’t be surprised if I turn up one day with a coloured fringe. You’ll know where I’ve been.
The bonus part of my Muse of London experience was the puppy. Carly has the most gorgeous bundle of fur. If that doesn’t make a good hair experience, I don’t know what does.
Who’s it for: Busy people who want a good, clean haircut without the wankiness, and a quality colour.
Where: They’re also open until 9pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for you late-workers.
How much: How long is a piece of string? (or should that be hair?) Prices start from £60 for a cut and blow-dry. Colouring starts from £80 for ombre / dip-dye / half head of highlights. See the full list of prices here
More information: www.museoflondon.co.uk
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