With Italian roots (ahemβ¦) and Italian style, a scientific approach to healthy hair, and a beautiful Chelsea location, GA Salons is my new go-to hairdresser for treatment, dye and styling.
Letβs start with the locationβ¦ On a quiet residential corner off the (good end) of the Kings Road, is a warmly lit reception. Think crittle doors and windows, herringbone floors, a metallic finish on the walls, and upstairs is even better; Perhaps ten stations β filled with returning clients β a high ceiling, wet-plaster look on the walls, and mostly Italian chatter. Yes, a cool place to spend an afternoon.
The healthy hair destination
And while itβs sure as hell not my go-to for locality β I live in Hackney β I couldnβt think of a more ideal place for a much-needed, healthy dose of pampering. There are five GA Salons in London, and numerous more throughout Italy, with others in South Ken, Westbourne Grove and Notting Hill β you get the driftβ¦ β all set up by Gennaro DellβAquila β an award-winning stylist who has hairdresser training schools in Italy teaching his exclusive techniques.
All stylists at all salons work under the GA βmethodβ, and all colour and treatment blends used are 100% organic. Whatβs more, they work.
I have fine, dry hair thatβs prone to breaking β either from the annual lightening (balayage, highlights, bleach, you name itβ¦) or from the tough conditions I put it through (high up freezing in mountains, or soaked in salt water in the sea). Either way, itβs rarely happy. I visited four months into a pledge to go back to my natural colour (darker), and whilst growing out a fringe. Neither are fun nor particularly fabulous processes.
The secret to healthy hairβ¦
I hand the problem over to Claudio, who debunks most of the myths Iβve believed and teaches me a thing or two. Did you know that healthy hair has an acidic pH? The cuticles of hair need to be closed to reflect the light β that is, shiny hair. He recommends taking the nozzle off the hairdryer to decrease the intensity.
He assures me I donβt need to grow out old bleached hair, to start again, and that semi-permanent colour or natural dyes are the way to go. Itβs all they use at the salon. I lament a temple cowlick, and he gestures (molto Italiano) to his own front-and-centre cowlick β βI am the master of themβ β before teaching me how to dry it, using it to my advantage (for volume).
In all the fringe trims, in all the salons, Iβve never had someone split it in two to twist and cut notches into it (the reality was a little smoother than it soundsβ¦). The idea is to create texture, without thinning the hair. And itβs worked wonderfully.
Although Claudio assures me he can sort out my blonde, I havenβt booked in for dye this time. Iβm trying to sort the quality of my hair first. I am, however, here for an all-natural hair treatment β what turns out to be a mud-like mask, made beautiful with flowers and care (refer to the photo of the chocolate cake).
Iβm ignorant of the processes, blissed out after a heavenly head massage and coconut tea (itβs better than you might think). But behind the scenes, I learned, there are 90 ingredients to choose from, to make your individual and perfect blend.
Fenugreek to hydrate is one I remember β needed to be prepared the day before. The herbs used are pigment-free and Rose of Damask is used to mask any smell, of which I could trace none. Claudio slathers my hair into this βblendβ that really is the texture of chocolate mousse. I send the picture out to friends and family while it works its magic: βMarie Antoinette?!β, I get in reply from one; βGreat British Bake Off showstopperβ, from another. Iβm assured all the ingredients are so natural that you could eat itβ¦
The cling film goes on, the heat ring is applied, and 20 minutes later Iβm unwrapped β how I can smell the blend β earthy, herbal. After a wash and blow dry, the results are immediate. My hair is sleek (I went in with hair more like straw) and the effects have lasted well.
Something I didnβt think Iβd ever look forward to, but Iβm excited to return for, is help with greys. The henna and natural dyes used are brilliant on white hair and work much better than chemical or synthetic dyes. Iβm sure Iβm not long off, but Iβll be going to GA Salon to see Claudio again to get my blonde locks back very soon. Watch this spaceβ¦
GA Salons Chelsea
3 Bray Place
London
SW3 3LL
United Kingdom
