Hare and Bone
Things don’t get off to a good start: I arrive for my colour appointment to find a sign on the door informing me that the salon will open later today due to a staff meeting. I have written down the wrong time in my diary and I am a whole hour early. One of the team spots me outside looking flustered and embarrassed (I don’t make mistakes, I’ve no idea how this happened), and takes pity on me, letting me in to sit in the warm until they are finished. She even offers to make me a coffee. I could cry.
Things get better still when my stylist, the wonderful Jade, comes upstairs and tells me she’ll skip the meeting (whispering, “any excuse,” and winking). I have my own private salon and feel utterly spoilt.
The colour
We’ve already discussed colour and style when I popped in for a consultation and colour test a few days earlier, so she gets to work immediately mixing and prepping. The salon works with Goldwell hair colours, known for creating beautifully multidimensional tones, but more importantly, for providing good grey coverage while being kind to hair (something that is particularly important for me). Much as I love a pampering session, I’m not great at sticking to regular salon appointments, so we’ve decided on low maintenance balayage to create flashes of lighter colour through the ends, but in the main the look is darker than my current style, with more reddish tones. Perfect for this time of year.
Colour finished, I settle into the divine massage chair for a conditioning treatment, before Jade gets to work on the cut. Nothing dramatic required, just some natural-looking layering around the face to give shape and movement. One swishy blow-dry later and I’m thrilled. Creative colouring, cool cuts and the most attentive customer service: I’ll definitely be keeping these guys on speed dial.
Hare and Bone – the details
Prices from £150. 69 Great Titchfield Street, W1W (020 7401 2413; hareandbone.co.uk)