If there’s anything the past couple of years has taught us, it is the value we place on experiences and that is something that I was all to happy to discover at Salon64 in Soho. The brainchild of Ricky Walters, this is a salon that is effortlessly cool, oozes glamour and is a spot where you can really enjoy the whole process of having your locks washed and styled. While getting your hair cut used to be a chore, Salon64 makes it so much more than just popping out for a quick trim. With an emphasis placed on experience rather than just a service, you will leave feeling fresh, pampered and, if you happen to sample one of their signature cocktails, a little tipsy.
When opening Salon64, Ricky did so with a mission – to open a luxurious social hub where customers could not only get a great haircut, but also socialise with friends, enjoy a coffee or a cocktail and quite literally let their hair down. On the day of my visit the weather is warm and as I battle through the throngs of people in Bateman St, it is a welcome reprieve to spot the stylish facade of the salon. I head in and am instantly impressed with the sleek interior. Set over two floors and encompassing 2000 square feet, the design “inspires the art of conversation through transformative spaces.” There are smooth wooden floors underfoot, white and gold surfaces and pops of colour strategically imbued throughout. The result is a space that’s relaxing, inviting and you just know you are somewhere special.
As I wait for my appointment I sit up at the bar (I told you this was no ordinary salon) and order a cocktail (after all, it’s 5 o clock somewhere!) I opt for the 64 which is a blend of Stolichnaya juice, fresh lemon and prosecco, garnished with fresh lychee, mint and fruit caviar. Other options on the menu include “the shag” “blue rinse” and one that I’m intrigued to try on my next visit, simply called “?????”
As I am led over for my consultation, the first thing I’m so surprised about is just how little it feels like a hairdresser. There’s no clinical feel, no ugly pod hairdryers, sinks, large mirrors or plastic clutter littering the surfaces. Instead, I am led to what could be an exquisitely designed dining area in a restaurant, complete with a fireplace in the centre of the table. This is in fact a high-tech workstation where the surface lifts up to reveal mirrors and consoles, compartments for your cocktail glass and magazine and even a spot to charge your phone. Ricky explains how he wanted the spot to be somewhere you can relax and rejuvenate and where you can top-up your makeup to match your new ‘do without having to squint over a small compact back in your office or on the tube. It’s somewhere that makes you both look and feel special from the moment you arrive, to long after you have left.
I am guided to have my hair washed which takes place in a smaller back room tucked away from the main salon floor. It’s a sleek space decorated in white with dim lighting and soft music playing. It’s a space to get pampered and prepped ahead of your cut and it delivers on all levels.
My hair washed and smelling absolutely divine, I sit down in front of my mirror, take a sip of my cocktail and am instantly welcomed by Ricky’s warm and friendly manner. He takes a look at my tresses and where other hairdressers have either tutted at my split ends or gone on to wordlessly chop off much more than I want gone (we’ve all been there) he asks me what I want. I have a section of hair at the back of my head that seems to always grow slower than the rest of my hair and he spends time trying to figure out the source so we can stop it from happening in the future. He uses his expertise to give my hair a much needed cut and style, finishing off with a glossy blow dry. The end result? Hair that looks a million miles away from the sad-looking locks that almost walked their own way in just a short while previously.
Yet that’s not all. In the evening, Salon64 dims the lights, turns up the music and transforms to Club64, an exclusive bar and private members club. As anyone who has been to Soho in an evening can attest, trying to find somewhere good with a spot to sit is near impossible. Club64 offers everything you could want and so much more.
Salon64 defies the rules of hairdressing. It’s stylish, sleek and welcoming. While so many others promise a “space to relax and unwind” you are often left feeling like you’ve overstayed your welcome. Here you feel like you are being greeted by a friend. It is somewhere that you can turn over all responsibility to your hair and know that you will be ecstatic with the result every time, for the team here seem to know just what you will want for your locks before you even seem to know it yourself. Enjoy a trip to the salon where you can make it into whatever you want. Where it can be a full on social experience, to sip cocktails, catch up with friends and top up your makeup before a meeting or event, or go where you know your hair is in safe hands and you will be treated like royalty from the start until the end.
Salon 64
14 Bateman St
London
W1D 3AG
