I recently visited the world-famous Issy’s Belgravia while holidaying in London and I loved it so much that I think you should visit them too! If you’re a South African traveling to London, you should absolutely visit this salon, even if it’s just for a treatment, blow-dry and a cappuccino. These are 10 reasons why you should visit Issy’s when you’re next in the area.
Ownership:
This salon is owned by some of the best hairstylists in the business, David Gillson is a stylist to the stars and his partner Debbie Postiglioni is an absolute dream to work with. For this reason alone, I would recommend visiting their salon. You can see their creative and energetic influence from the way the store looks, to the highly-skilled stylists they hire. Their attention to detail is faultless, and their energy is contagious.
Do it for the gram:
Belgravia street is an Instagrammers dream. The area has magnificent, hand-painted murals, and the street is filled with spectacular stores. Each store entrance is beautifully decorated with flower arches which change with the seasons. This street is also home to magnificent bakeries and coffee shops, including the world-famous Peggy Porschen, a unique Jo Malone store which pumps delicious scents from the vents outside the store, and the patisserie Dominique Ansel. So, you can get your hair done and then photograph yourself at all the cool spots in the area. This day out is a real treat!
They’re a green salon:
Issy’s salon in Belgravia is a full Davines salon, so you can trust that your hair is in the best hands and it will look good, feel great and smell fabulous when you leave the salon. They also sell the full Davines range so you can keep your locks looking luscious in-between hair appointments. Scrummi Hair Towels are used on all clients, these towels are 15x more absorbent than cotton towels and they are made from 100% natural biodegradable wood fibers that have been sustainably sourced. Their basins also have eco-heads, each head has double the water pressure which cuts down water use by 65%. It also has a unique filtration system which helps reduce the chlorine in the water and it generates negative ions as water goes through, which softens the hair for a smoother end result.
It feels like home:
The Issy’s team is almost entirely made up of South African’s which is pleasantly reassuring. In a big city where you don’t know anyone, stepping foot in Issy’s feels surprisingly like home. You’re surrounded by people with the same accent, interests, and sense of humor. The team is so welcoming and accommodating, it’s an absolute dream and Debbie is so nurturing she feels like a second mom. You can’t help but open up to her.
The royal treatment:
From the moment you walk into the salon, you feel like royalty. Once you walk in, you’re escorted to a station, where an expert stylist consults you and then you get started on your treatment, and you get to sip on bubbles or cappuccinos while you’re being transformed of course. They also have a nail tech on site so you can get your nails done at the same time. They offer great head massages; their premises are beautiful, and you leave looking better than you did when you arrived.
Sunday fun day:
Issy’s Belgravia offers you 30% off your colour on Sundays! Highlights, a blow-dry, and brunch with the girls, sign me up.
Knowledge is power:
Issy’s stylists are knowledgeable about what they do and offer expert advice. They can do everything from natural-looking hair to the famous London punk look. It’s such a vibe!
Davines view:
They’re one of the few salons that offer Davines view. Davines view offers some demi-permanent colour, with an acidic pH that offers extraordinary shine and volume for hair. Now you can add a few candy floss pink streaks to your hair, that will wash out after a couple of weeks.
The team is fun:
I happened to visit the salon on Halloween and the whole team was dressed to the nines. From vampires to angles, the whole gang was there. When you see a team having fun together like this, you know they’ve got a good working relationship and you kind of want to be involved in the mix. Seeing a team work so well together while having a blast makes you want to do the same.
Bespoke experience:
Everything in Belgravia is about a bespoke experience, from custom hat stores to Issy’s. Issy’s is all about you, and your look. When I entered the salon, I had lots of warm tones in my hair, my talented hairstylist Jess Brown asked if she could lighten them up, which I agreed too. I left with a hair full of shiny silvers and golds and I absolutely loved my look.
Will you be visiting Issy’s the next time you’re in London?
