Pre-baby splurge on a fab hair do

[ladyruskin]

I start my maternity leave this week and have decided to treat myself to a great hair cut in advance of the impending arrival. I want to be a bit spoiled and pampered with a cut and colour. Can anyone recommend somewhere (doesn't have to be in the immediate vicinity) that would do both and make me feel fabulous? I have a budget in mind, but it seems extravagant even to put it in writing!

[zeban]

Sloupe in Clapham South. Daniella is AMAZING http://www.sloupe.com/

[scotlass]

Mathew Soobroy at Charles Worthington in Percy Street, West London. He's fantastic. Good idea treating yourself, I'm due end of July, think I'll do the same! :))

http://www.charlesworthington.com/salons/team/mathew-soobroy

[Strawbs]

Can I ask a quick question re hair - is anyone colouring their hair whilst pregnant? im almost 19 weeks and havent so far but things are getting a bit desperate but I dont want to if Im still at a stage where i shouldnt - any views? thanks

[ladyruskin]

I sought advise on this very subject from a few hairdressers. They all said that highlights are fine as they don't touch the scalp and therefore the dye isn't absorbed into the bloodstream. They advised that full colour should be avoided as it does touch the scalp. I have had 2 lots of highlights during my pregnancy based on this advice.

Edited for clarity

[Claire29]

During pregnancy with all my 3 I've had either hightlights or permanent hair dyes - it didn't cause me any problems.

[ae]

I've always found GMs Hair on Melbourne Grove fantastic. Everyone who I've come into contact with there has been really lovely and I've always left feeling fantastic.

In addition to the ace hairdo I always get, if you book an appointment with one of their more senior stylists, you get a free hand and arm massage while your hair is being cut too. A really nice touch!

On the subject of colour during pregnancy (a subject close to my heart - I have far too many greys to make it to October without doing *something*), I was advised to go for highlights, semi-perm colour or one of those 10 minute jobs for permanent colour, so the dye isn't on your scalp for very long if you do decide to go for full colour.

[Saffron]

From what I understand, the advice to avoid dyes with prolonged scalp contact is more to do with the mother having an allergic reaction than to what would putatively pass to the foetus. xx

[crystal7]

The Aveda institute in Covent Garden is fab. So relaxing and the use gorgeous products. Great cafe too.

[Yak]

My v limited experience (yaklet is only 7 wks) is to make sure you have something that not only makes you feel great but us also easy to maintain. My highlights (done wk before I was due) already need touching up! So worth thinking about finding someone fairly local who you trust either to do the initial cut / colour or aftercare. For the past couple of years I've used Brekken at the Runway Salon in Westminster, who is amazing, but getting over there for a hair appt when breastfeeding etc is proving a little tricky!

My understanding is that highlights in particular are fine because of the lack of extensive scalp contact Saffron mentions.

[ladyruskin]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm really looking forward to treating myself!

I have a local hairdresser who I trust but I really want to splurge on somewhere I wouldn't usually go to.

[mackerelfish]

I second Aveda Institute - best haircut and colour I've ever had. Products are all natural & smell divine - so good I have a friend who admitted to standing behind me sniffing my hair last time I'd been!! xx

[Pocket]

I second Charles Worthington in Percy Street. Some of London's best colourists work there - and they are expert at getting it right: complimenting skin tones etc. And it's an all round top customer experience if you want something special. Try Des or Matthew for sure.

[Saffron]

Yak Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> For the

> past couple of years I've used Brekken at the

> Runway Salon in Westminster, who is amazing, but

> getting over there for a hair appt when

> breastfeeding etc is proving a little tricky!

Perhaps ask if they would do you a one-off home appointment since you have been such a good customer?

[zeban]

Hair salons don't do home appointments no matter how good a client you are. It's the individual stylists you need to ask.

[MrsLL2b]

I use GMs now and think they are fine for standard cut/colour but there are def way better places you can go to for a splurge. Haris in south ken or the kings road is unbelievable. But v pricey-a blow-dry is ?60! But it will make you feel like you're a celeb. Plus the added bonus of lots of shopping and lunching in the vicinity!

Also I did dye my hair whilst pregnant with full on permanent colour-as one friend put it 'her husband would prob leave her if she let her roots grow that much and it was better to take the risk with the colour than risk becoming a single parent family!'. (that is Tongue in cheek btw!)

[catjo13]

Derek Morris at Jo Hansford on Mount St - for a superb long lasting cut. Jo herself for colour if you're feeling really flush (she did Camilla's before the RW !!!) or any of the top colourists are good.

[uptime]

I don't get my hair coloured (yet) but pre-baby I got my hair cut at Daniel Galvin, which is very close to Selfridges. They are hair colourist specialists so be prepared to pay the price of an average family holiday for the full works! Would recommend David or Lucia for your cut. And also bear in mind that about 6 months post-baby, great big clumps of your hair will fall out...

[nylonmeals]

Zina at Myla and Davies in Herne Hill is the most amazing colourist - she colours Florence (from Florence and teh Machine)'s hair and is honestly a colour genius! She only works a few days a week though.

http://www.mylaanddavis.co.uk/Myla_and_Davis/Zina.html

Its a great salon. They also have Baby Mondays when they have toys and people to play with kids while you get your hair cut!

[Helen GV]

uptime Wrote:

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> And also

> bear in mind that about 6 months post-baby, great

> big clumps of your hair will fall out...

Mine didn't, not noticeably anyway. Think it's more that while preggers your hair falls out less, then makes up for it after the birth (not wanting to scare the op.. :) )

[LSB]

Another vote for Zina at Myla and Davis - I went on Wednesday and think it's probably the best colour I've ever had (husband agrees!)

[Annie456]

oh i've avoided hair dye so far and now 29 weeks...I guess I can hold out a few more weeks. I had a bad reaction last time I had a colour (even using natural products) so I don't want to risk it whilst pregnant. have lots of "natural" highlights now.... :-S

Will come back to your advice on stylists when I start my maternity leave :))