A salon tucked away in a forest in the heart of the Suffolk countryside, Curated Hair is a masterclass in effortless style and laidback luxury.
Housed in a former coach house within the grounds of Thornham Hall, Curated Hair has been open for two years. “Our new space was conceived post-Covid due to team changes and a shift in what clients wanted. We moved from a big bustling salon to something slower and calmer,” explains Curated Hair founder, Alistair Jubbs. “We have five stylists and two front of house staff, and essentially Curated Hair is a chilled place where we work one-on-one with clients. It’s an intimate experience and making our clients feel at home is our number one priority.”
This approach is also reflected in the Curated Hair interior. Soft furnishings, a comfy sofa, green houseplants and vintage furniture all create that homely vibe. “The sofa dominates the space and that’s intentional. It’s where the front of house staff greet clients and make them a hot drink, or guests are free to pick up a coffee table book and relax,” says Alistair. “We moved away from a traditional salon reception and styling stations because we wanted a chilled vibe.”
Conventions are further challenged in their unique retail area. “Our retail products are housed in a vintage haberdashery cabinet,” shares Alistair. “It’s a curated edit, a nod to the salon’s name. In my session kit I have products ranging from £2 to £80 and I wanted to create a retail space that reflected that range. Clients are increasingly looking for personal, editorialised recommendations.”
When it comes to the furniture choice, Alistair knew the brand he wanted to work with. “We’ve been in the industry 20 plus years, and we know the quality of Takara Belmont furniture. For me, the chair that a client sits in is the most important thing in a salon. It’s where our client spends most of their time and it has to be comfortable, luxurious and beautifully designed. We love the Shiki styling chair for this reason. We also have one Dainty grooming chair – this smaller barber chair works really well for us and we use it on all genders and all hair types.” Alistair goes on to explain how the barber chair works perfectly for cutting and styling curly hair because it reclines, allowing stylists to bring a client’s hair over the back of the chair and easily diffuse it from a comfortable position for the client. “The Dainty barber chair is really wonderful for people with accessibility issues. It’s wider than other chairs and easy to get into. We want to cater to clients with a range of body shapes and heights.”
The rich, earthy shade of the chairs matches the colour scheme perfectly. The warm, but neutral, colour palette nods to the Danish lifestyle trend Hygge, a quality of cosiness, comfort and contentment. This Hygge theme is further brought to life by the coffee area, vintage lanterns, and even the incense they use, which is changed seasonally. It’s also reflected in the way the business interacts with the local community. Alistair shares: “We showcase local products and have a sustainability focus. Our salon furniture has to be a long-term investment too.”
Recreate The Look
The Dainty adapts seamlessly to any salon setting and can be customised from a wide range of colours, contrasting piping and base and fabric options. Supremely versatile and functional, the 360º (lockable) base rotation and a reclining backrest ease your client into the most comfortable position for their service. With an adjustable and removable headrest, upholstered padded armrests and a footrest, Dainty is distinctive, timeless and robust. Price: £1,490-£1,900
With its elegant, delicate frame, the Shiki styling chair is quintessentially Japanese with an international outlook. The Shiki’s 360˚ lockable rotation and low backrest allow for easy access to the client’s hair. Black or champagne metalwork and hydraulic base options make this a great choice from Takara Belmont’s Zen Collection. Price: £970-£1,020
For more information on Takara Belmont equipment visit www.takarahairdressing.co.uk
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See the full article in our November issue of HJ. This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Takara Belmont.
