A hair makeover by renowned hair expert Michael Van Clarke

With spring in full swing, the sun is shining and I am so excited for the summer ahead. Or at least I would be if I didn’t feel that my hair was so blah! Desperately in need of a fresh, more fun look and a complete hair makeover, and after hearing rave reviews, I decided to put my trust in the hands of leading hairdressing expert Michael Van Clarke. It’s never easy going to a new salon but having read glowing reviews and discussing with fashion stylists in the know, I was confident that Michael was the one.

With over 43 years in the industry, he has travelled the world looking after the most discerning clients, including nine Royal families, political leaders, models, rock stars, and A-list film celebrities – and now me! He has worked with leading international designers for their catwalk shows, worked in photographic studios for the top magazines – getting his first Vogue editorial spread at just 19 - and established his own unique signature systems to get the very best from hair – I was going to need all his years of expertise as I wanted a fresh new look.

With an undisputable pedigree in hairdressing, Michael has cultivated a unique approach to hair and beauty which is shared by all team members. They take into account each client’s needs to achieve the best results.

As I entered the boutique-style salon housed in an elegant townhouse in Marylebone, I thought that's exactly what I want for my hair – elegance without showing off. The salon's design complements its stylish surroundings, from the minimalist exterior to the elegant interior. Michael is hands-on with all aspects of the aesthetics of the salon, even to the minutiae of selecting beautiful fresh flowers daily to adorn the salon.

The salon is buzzing with energy as I arrive. I am warmly greeted by the receptionist who offers me a drink whilst I wait for Michael to finish with his previous client. A few moments later, Michael appears and welcomes me to his salon before ushering me to his chair. A celebrity in the hair world, Michael is also an innovator and has created his own ‘Diamond Dry Cut’ technique – a result of three decades of obsessive refinement in the most challenging marketplace of the world’s leading capital city.

Cutting the hair dry allows Michael and his team to work with the hair’s natural movement and texture, interpreting face shapes and features to create brilliant styles with an unrivalled level of precision and balance. The finished look is unique to the client, so looks better, lasts longer and, most importantly for me, is easy to maintain at home.

Michael began to snip away at my hair with an effortless motion, almost magically moving the scissors around my head. He follows the natural movement of my hair for a more defined cut that complements my face shape. After methodically analysing and moving my hair around, snipping here and there, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, literally! My hair is lighter and has more bounce and movement, and Michael has added a few layers around the front which really help define my face.

Once Michael finished his magic on my hair I was introduced to my colourist who had the task of brightening up my hair for that summery look. We chatted for a few minutes about my desired colour and agreed on a mixture of highlights and balayage to achieve an overall brightness with minimal upkeep. Excited to get started, she meticulously started painting the colour onto every strand of my hair – a very laborious task! But I was happy relaxing in my seat reading the latest magazines and enjoying a nice hot cappuccino from the salon’s ‘Deli’ that serves fresh and healthy food to order alongside energising and reinvigorating juices and smoothies.

Finally, it was time to rinse. I was escorted to the washbasin and seated in a comfortable massaging chair where I was also offered a relaxing head massage. Once rinsed, I was shown downstairs to the hairstyling area, where I met my stylist Ivana who dried and styled my hair using pin rollers for big, beautiful, bouncy waves – I couldn’t wait to show-off my new locks at dinner later that night.

Back upstairs, I went to show the charming Michael my new look – he was so pleased to see the final result as he had envisioned and was even happier that I was thrilled with my hair.

But there was one last stop before leaving and that was to learn about Michaels’ range of revolutionary hair care products, 3’’’ More Inches. Developed from decades of couture hairdressing experience and a scientific understanding of hair, then rigorously tested in a live development lab of a working salon, his range has redefined hair care in the marketplace. I couldn’t help myself and took home a few suggested items to help maintain my new hair’s health and growth.

My trepidation about trying a new salon was completely unfounded, and Michael and his fabulous team treated me like an old friend and created a new look that I love! If you haven’t yet tried the Michael Van Clarke experience, be sure to visit his salon for your next hair makeover.

Michael Van Clarke

1 Beaumont Street

Marylebone, London W1G 6DF

www.vanclarke.com

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