Hill head hair and beauty - classic opulence in hampshire
Published
18th May 2013
by bathamm
In 1961, Ernie and Beryl Stares first opened their hair salon in Hill Head Hair and Beauty. Fifty-two years on, and with their daughter Rachael Riches at the helm, the salon was in dire need of a refit, having had only minor makeovers in the intervening years.
The unisex salon features a separate walk-in barbers, and as part of the rejuvenation, has also started offering beauty services to attract new clients. Rachael, who designed the interior along with her team, wanted to maintain the vintage feel, while also creating an elegant and comfortable space for clients to relax.
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How long did the salon revamp take?
The work has taken a year in total as we kept the salon open everyday apart from on Sundays, which is when some of the larger jobs took place.
Why did you pick the colour scheme?
The salon is a mix of gold, silver, beige and green. We picked this colour scheme as it has the classy, elegant look we wanted to achieve. The walls are mainly painted beige and light brown, with the exception of our feature wall which is covered in a gold shimmer-effect Laura Ashley wallpaper.
What's the reception area like?
Clients are welcomed to the salon at a gold table built in to a vintage brick wall. The reception area also features a lovely antique-style chair.
Are there any other stand-out features?
We're delighted with the new beauty areas, like the Champagne nail bar in the corner of the salon which is great for clients who want to treat themselves. We also have a separate beauty area which is small but provides a relaxing environment for clients to unwind.
How have you separated different areas of the salon?
The beauty area is kept separate by a large gold and beige curtain. There is a wall dividing the ladies' salon and the men's barbers, which is decorated in a more masculine colour scheme of black, white and silver.
What was the most important consideration when revamping your salon?
Client comfort was of huge importance to us as we have a great deal of older ladies who have been coming to our salon since 1961, and we didn't want them to be put off by the new interior. However, while we aren't looking to be particularly trendy, we still wanted to attract some younger clients, which is why we opted for a classic, vintage style. Male and female clients of all ages have complimented us on the new look.
What's the best thing you've done in the salon?
Probably adding beauty services as this has brought in a great deal of new hair clients
as well.
FACT FILE
Name: Hill Head Hair and Beauty
Address: 56 Crofton Lane, Hill Head, Fareham, Hampshire
Owner: Rachael Riches
Size: 323sq ft
How long have you been on the premises? 52 years
Staff: Eight
Styling stations: Eight
Budget: £20,000
Financing: Self
Furniture: REM, Home Sense and antique shops.
BUDGET
Flooring: £3,000
Extension: £5,000
Styling units: £1,600
Chairs: £2,000
Backwash units: £1,200
Salon sign: £2,000
Miscellaneous: £5,200
