Seven Sassy Spring Styles

If there is one thing we love, it's a change of Season.  Prepare ahead with our list of Seven Styles that we think are going to hit Spring...Hard!

To book your appointment with our Stylists simply visit www.tommyshaircompany.com and find your  nearest Salon!

Life in the Fast Lane

No...We're not talking about getting Pole Position in the Salon to get your haircut first!

We know how life can be.  You have to pick up the kids from school at 3:15, you've booked a hair appointment for 2:00 and you are just not sure if you are going to make it in time, what with all the incredible treatments, head massage at Shampoo, and browsing of products you like to do when you are in the Salon.  It should feel like a pampering, indulgent experience.  Not the last sprint of the London Marathon towards the finish line!

Welcome to the Fast Lane.  Here at Tommy's we understand that sometimes taking your time simply isn't practical, and as one of our previous posts said, we never 'squeeze' anybody in.  So what's the solution?  

We Fast Lane your appointment!  Simply arrive ten minutes before your appointment time.  We will take your bill, book your next appointment and send you over for consultation with your Stylist.  So that when your appointment time comes along you have already had that incredible head massage, had a quick peek at the retail that you want to take home to keep your hair in it's best condition, and you can fly out the door confident in the fact that you have had exactly the same level of service but with a 10-15 minute head start!

Want to save even more time?  If your time is limited and you can only visit us on a certain day at a certain time, then we will schedule you in for that day and time at your chosen interval!  Stress free hairdressing!

To take advantage, simply phone your nearest Salon ( visit www.tommyshaircompany.com to find your nearest one!) and ask them to fast lane your appointment!

Got suggestions of how we can continue to improve our service for you? Please visit the website and get in contact to let us know!

Would you clean your hotel room before the maid came?

Should I wash my hair before coming to the Salon?

We don't want to be gross or anything but we love dirty hair. Ok, there is a cut off point of  how many days you can go without shampooing, but you should NEVER (except one instance!) shampoo your hair before you come to the salon.

Coming for your colour done? Always come with dry hair (Professional Tip!) it saves time if you want to be out on time, and means that it won't need to be blow dried before hand!  Dirty hair (second...even third day hair is ok) makes it easier for the technician to place foils.  Oils secreted by your hair also form a type of protection against possible irritation by the colour!

With a haircut...Well having a dry cut is like going to McDonalds for a Salad.  You want the burger but you've cheated yourself out of it, and it costs exactly the same!  You have come to the professionals and it costs no more or less to sit back in our shiatsu massage chairs, and feel the stress of every day life melt away with every knot that is kneaded out of your back by the chair. Pair that with the KILLER head ritual that is done during your shampoo and you will wonder why you cheated yourself out of this experience for so long!

But you should come with your hair styled the way you normally wear it.  Makes it easier for the Stylists to see what you do with your hair, and see what kind of effort and/or style you put in yourself.

Hair Up and Curling appointments should always be washed and dried the day before, then just left.  No styling products...no oils...just your hair. Okay...Maybe a volumising cream such as Forme Fatale or Lift Vertige from Kerastase but nothing else!  It gives a great base for doing hair up and curling, and if we need to change the texture for any reason then we can always do that in the chair :)

And that exception when you should wash your hair....Chlorine.  Always wash your hair after being in a swimming pool...Chlorine reacts with colour, and the results can be...how shall we say...Interesting?  Also if you have put any lightening products such as SUN-IN or other type of thing, let your stylist know!  The results of that with foils and lifting agents can be very serious!

So if you haven't washed your hair when you visit us...Don't worry, it's going to happen anyway.  It's like cleaning the hotel room before the maid comes!

Team Tommy's...

NO ONE CAN WHISTLE A SYMPHONY....

....it takes a whole orchestra to play it.  - H.E. Luccock

Unlike other Salons, we practice a team philosophy.  This means the skills of our entire team (From our Salon assistants to our Stylists) are available to you.  We wouldn't dream of committing you to one Stylist or technician.  

We don’t want to keep you on a waiting list.  Being there when you need us, and fitting into your busy schedule is our number one priority.  Not every Stylist is a master of all skills, our ‘Perfect Match’ System aligns you with the Team member with the best suited experience level, skill set, and strength to suit your hair and your lifestyle.  Each Team Member has a strength that when combined, offer you an array of style enhancing options that can not be rivalled.  

So you are scared when you book an appointment and you get a different Stylist, it’s going to be a disaster?  We can assure you this isn't the case, and neither are we going to force you to stay with the same Stylist either.  We know that a massive part of our success is the relationship that has been built up with our Guests.  We know that you have a ‘favourite’ Team member that you prefer.  However if they have fallen ill, are on vacation, or working on an outside event such as London Fashion Week, we want you to know that you have the option to see another Team Member.

Me and my Shadow

Each Team Member has a ‘Shadow Stylist’.  This is usually the person that would colour your hair, or the one that you usually visit for the blow dry’s for that special occasion.  These Team Members work closely with your Stylist, and they often know your hair.  These Stylists are called Shadow Stylists, and they are trusted to look after you when your usual Stylists are not around (That’s right, our stylists have favourites too!), and they wouldn't hand that responsibility over to just anyone who is available.  So not only do we not mind if you want to visit a different stylist in the Salon...We want you to!  There’s no commissions at Tommy’s, and we do not ‘rent chairs’.  Your time is important, and we want to make sure you can be seen by us, without that Guilty pang!

To ensure consistent service quality and technical skill, each team member completes our in-salon skill certification program. This means you can always have confidence and peace of mind, knowing that you are in the talented hands of a Tommy’s Team member. You'll always have a fresh perspective....and you'll always receive the utmost in True Quality service and attention. Guaranteed.

So there you have it, the next time that you need that appointment that you forgot to make, before the Wedding you've been invited to tomorrow, ask our Guest Experience Manager who the Shadow Stylist is.  You will get the same incredible Tommy’s Service, and Style minus the panic!

Let's get Creative

A fantastic perk of this job, and working with people that are so incredibly passionate about what they do, is that  I get to go places with them and support them in what they do.  YAY!


Here in the Salon, we have a very busy calendar when it comes to Awards.  Our Stylists and, in fact the whole team, work really hard to make sure that we deliver the best service, and hair that is individually tailored to fit each and every Guests lifestyle, entering internal, local, and National Awards, helps us make sure we are constantly striving for the highest standard in everything we do.

Keeping our head in the game is vital, not only to make sure that we are constantly pushing forward, but also to make sure that we are on top of the latest techniques and fashion to maintain looking ahead, and not behind.

Of all the Awards that we enter, and competitions that we get to take part in, I think the Creative Team Awards are by far my personal favourite.   Every March / February, we get the letter from Schwarzkopf Professional, that lets us know that the deadline for entries will soon be imminent.   As soon as you see that letter, you can almost hear the Creative Cogs whirring around the stylists brains and dreaming up the next Style and fashion concepts that will win them the Award.  These are put on to Mood boards, and then we wait to see if our mood board has made the grade to be selected to enter the final of the competition....

The competition is for Salon Team Members only, no input on any level is accepted from the Management or Directors of the Company.  This is the people that work on the floor, showing what they think will be trending through the seasons ahead.  Schwarzkopf give the stylists guidelines in essential looks (see a taster video below!), and then it's artistic licence to interpret those looks and turn it into double take hair fashion.

A few weeks ago we headed off to Manchester to take place in the Creative Team Awards, and it is one of the highlights of our year.   Above is the video of 'flux' from S/S 2012 Essential Looks.  We get images that Schwarzkopf predicts are going to be cutting edge (it's like having a sneak peak at Fashion Week!) and then we interpret a chosen collection and turn it into our own! The show is very strict with rules and regulations, each Team has a 2 minute Cat Walk show, and 2 minutes to present their work, any difference and there will be penalties, as well as one of the models needing to be male, the hair can be coloured and cut pre-show, however ALL final prep must be done on the day!

Sally getting excited outside the Midland Hotel!

The team have 4 minutes live stage time to influence the panel of judges (from journalists of influential hair and beauty magazines, to directors of global hair companies and fashion) using their creativity and passion.

Our  Team contains the elite of our salon's creative mindset, with all levels at the ready to make it a fantastic show, steered by Camilla Whines from my home Ruthin Salon, she directs Sally Matischok (Ruthin), Calum Henderson (Llandudno), and Amie Brierly (Chester) to create a fashion popping, head turning, trend setting, electrically glittering hair and fashion 4 minute FRENZY!
To show you what we did here are some photo's of our day!