Salons We Love: Errol Douglas Salon, Belgravia
We’re not going to embarrass Errol Douglas MBE by revealing how long we’ve known him. Oh, alright, then: more than 30 years, since we used to book in for blow-dries with him at Paul Edmonds salon.
But it’s been over two decades, actually, since Errol (pictured below) opened his own salon – on what is now pedestrianised Motcomb Street (and very gorgeous the street looks, too, with its potted plants). We felt it was definitely time for a long-overdue revisit.
Of course, things are different in salons nowadays. But quite aside from the fantastic blow-dry Jo experienced, we have to report – for those who are nervous to return to the hairdresser’s chair – that Errol’s salon is the most Covid-conscious that we’ve visited, since lockdown ended. First off, your clothes are taken from you and placed under a dry cleaner’s cover, hung beside you on the wall.
Between all the backwashes and in the colouring department, there are transparent screens, while staff (of course) wear both masks and visors. There’s a one-way system: in the front door, out the back. And where there isn’t already a lot of space between the chairs you sit in for cutting and styling, more screens. Altogether very reassuring, if virus-angst is stopping you from getting a great cut, or your roots attended to.
Jo was honoured to enjoy a blow-dry from the man himself – nominated this year for the 14th time for British Hairdresser of the Year (and if this isn’t Errol’s year, you’ll find us on the streets protesting, possibly with pitchforks). But the whole team’s world-class – and now includes Yolanda Douglas, Errol’s daughter, who’s proving a seriously talented colourist.
Errol’s a Dyson fan, so blow-drying is speedy – and super-shiny, as only a Dyson can deliver. (Found that out for ourselves, while we were incarcerated earlier this year.) But with his insights into curls and coils and Black and Asian hair generally, Errol Douglas is also a must-visit for anyone dealing with the challenges of those hairtypes.
In super-speedy time, Jo exited – through the back door, of course – glossy-locked and swingy-haired. Promising, hand on heart, that it won’t be a decade before she’s back again…
Errol Douglas 18 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8LB/020-7235 0110
PS If you do visit, leave time for a coffee/tea and dessert at Pantechnicon London, the most extraordinarily fabulous three-storey ‘Scandi-Japanese’ emporium and café/restaurant, next door. A weird-sounding combo – but it’s quite something…
