Last week the WWW.Comb team jumped in a minibus and headed to the Excel London. For it is October and every year the London Excel turns into a colourful spectacle of everything hairdressing for the massive exhibition called Salon International. Top brands and big name stylists collect for a selling and show extravaganza. We go to scout the latest looks, trends, tricks and innovations. It is important to get out of the salon and see what is happening in the wider industry to confirm we are offering Ruislip the best in hairdressing and the most exciting salon experience. Here are some of the highlights.
Not Another Salon burst onto the scene just over two years ago and for those of you who don’t know, their Boss lady Sophia Hilton has won a host of awards for her innovative business ideas and a lot of press in the process. Based in Brick lane they have a fun flamboyant salon, drag queen receptionist and are famed for their vivid hair colours. However once you peel back the wrapping, their vision and philosophies aren’t far from ours. Consultation and honesty about what is achievable with your hair is paramount to us and being clear on your wishes and understanding what you’ve loved with your hair in the past and what you’ve hated to make sure we give you what you expect. Sophia also talks about a no judgement policy in her salon. We’ve never labeled this but put simply we want you to enjoy your visit with us, feel at home and feel like you can tell us anything without feeling like we will judge you or you can’t be yourself. We fit with you not the other way around. Be you, do you and we will just provide great hair. Cue the pumping music and more drag queens and perfectly blended Ombre wigs.
Social Media has brought stylists out of the salon and onto YouTube and ultimately onto our phone screens and along with the burgeoning crowd for Sophia Hilton. The other end of the vast hall were more screams and this time the forayer was for Guy Tang. A divisive figure in out industry. In my experience good and bad. Bad that a youtube video can make a transformation look like it happens in minutes and that hair comes out perfect every time and the same for every client. Blame the game not the player ? Colours on screen can vary and while you can’t deny his talent, he has brought excitement and problems in his wake. Older stylists have years of dealing with the real world. However our younger team wanted to see their YouTube idol in the flesh. Gay, camp as can be, loud and proud, and extra LA. So if he inspires our next generation so be it! And positively he has a hair line he has named MyIdentity and I guess that has a positive message about being the best you once again. He has also brought a host of unusual colours into the public eye and the new trends are always exciting for a salon passionate about colour. He is someone very much championing metallic shades and what we call is it or isn’t it colour. Those colours that aren’t one thing or another and not easily defined, is it pink or rose gold? Is it navy, black or blue?
Speaking of undefinable colours, Akin Konizi four times hairdresser of the year showed some great colours on stage inspired by minerals including this lovely smoky purple with blue. While French supremo Guy Kremer’s team showed pure romance.
A trend that seemed to tie the show together ( excuse the pun) was tying hair, binding hair and adding rope and strings into hair. No more so than the team from Skyler London, who went big with this trend with full on Macrame. According to Skyler herself the team when full geek on this and watched a ton of craft videos to get their desired pieces ready for the show. Excellent impact on stage and we can think of a host of ways we will take this trend into wearable looks.
Don’t worry in true WWW.Comb team style there was plenty of opportunities for a selfie.
And to finish the day we were treated to Max and Harvey at the Wahl stand, YouTube sensations singing a cover of Sean Mendes, There’s nothing me holding me back.
Until next year Salon International
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