I admire girls who stay in to wash their hair & leave whole afternoons free to pamper & paint themselves.
But I'm not one of them.
I tend to leave it until I absolutely have to, then drag myself to the salon for a complete overhaul.
There's also only one woman in the whole world who I'll let cut my hair.
Melanie.
I started going to her when I was 11.
I had a short little pixie haircut and I was very particular about it.
Since then I've seen maybe 2 or 3 other hairdressers, all of whom have left me in tears whispering "It's only hair, it'll grow, it'll grow" to myself.
Now, when I was 11 it was easy. My mum would pop me in the back of the car with the dogs & we'd trundle down the road to Bath.
Mel worked at Toni & Guy back then. Mum & I would go in, each have our hair cut and wonder around the sandstone streets, shopping and stopping for bites to eat and huge frothy coffees.
Now I live in London, it's a little trickier.
It's a 2 hour train journey down to Mel's salon, but totally worth it.
I grab a fresh new book at the station, arm fulls of nibbles & make my way back to the country.
But can you blame me when it looks like this?
She designed and built the place herself (a project I loved following on her blog "Happiest in Hunters").
Reclaimed, recycled and organic goodies cover every surface.
The perfect mix of rustic & lux.
I had the works.
Waxing, threading, mani, pedi & my locks chopped.
Paint-wise, I opted for Essie "Mint Candy Apple" to match my kicks!
Hair aftermath...
My favourite bit was actually totally unexpected.
Sarah the lovely brow lady coaxed me into having my sluggish eyebrows threaded & tinted darker.
She said I needed 'Snow White eyebrows'.
I raised one of my slugs in amusement, but agreed.
After a few minutes of torture (I loathe being plucked) I was done, and ready to concede... I did indeed have Snow White eyebrows.
See?
Y'all ask me for my hair tips nearly every day, so here's my tip to top the list:
Find a great hairdresser.
Mel's my favourite and I highly recommend her to all of my friends.
She has two salons, one in Bath & a new one in Frome.
None in London... yet, but I'll keep trying to persuade her, so watch this space!
.
Wowzers babe! I need to check this place out - i love the whole unique sweeny todd style it's got going on! Fricking Awesome! :)
ReplyDeletexxx
www.stylestreetstalker.com
I live in somerset and have been looking for a new salon for aaaaggeeesssssss!! Your my hero! xxxx
ReplyDeletePerfect! x
DeleteThis place looks great.....but surely you don't travel to Bath for a blow dry all the time :)
ReplyDeleteHow do you get your locks so voluminous and luscious on a daily basis? It'd be GREAT if you could do a blog on how you do your hair for a night out....it always looks AMAZING.
I'm a big fan of your blog!
x
Oh lord no!
DeleteYou can have blowdrys anywhere, it's just hot air and a round brush.
Just never let anyone who you don't completely trust CUT your hair, as it's irreversible!
The cut is what gives volume and shape. Particularly the layers.
x
I recently also discovered the difference an eyebrow tint makes and I love it. I cannot deal without having them done now & yours look gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing salon too - if only I lived a bit closer! x
I have a feeling I'm going to become seriously addicted.
DeleteI can tell you now you will, it's the same as having an eyelash tint. Completely addictive!
DeleteYay! Another blog post and as always, i loved it. Your eyebrows look fab. I highly reccomend trying HD Brows.
ReplyDeleteAhh they do HD Brows at the salon but I really don't like them.
DeleteI think they're too harsh.
I know some people like a very 'done' look, with fake tan, fake eyelashes, strong eyebrows etc... I just prefer a more natural look.
But maybe I'm just too lazy to keep it up! xx
You still manage to have the beautiful, soft, feminine look - lazy or not. I might take a nice roadtrip down there for the weekend sometime soon, I will certainly pop in & let them know where I heard about them - I'm sure they'll be chuffed with this post! Keep up the fantastic work, I really enjoy your blog! X
Deletesnow white indeed. I covet eyebrows like that, mine are too angular & wicked witchy!
ReplyDeleteThis place looks lovely! I'm moving to Bath for university in September so I'll definitely have to pay a visit since I'm also very picky with hairdressers :)
ReplyDeleteLove the blog as always.
www.inspirationormadness.com
xoxo
The hair and the eyebrows are both amazing! I wish I could trust someone in Korea to do my eyebrows, but I just don't. Its bad enough having my hair colour done blond, despite going to the owner and managing director of Toni and Guy Korea, I still always find myself thinking about the fact that no-one here has blond hair or dyes it blond, EVER. It scares me.
ReplyDeleteAmelia @ UGLY DUCKLING xxx
Come say hey at Ducklingtoswan.com! :)
holy mother of god that is great hair! x
ReplyDeletewhats this blow out called?x
ReplyDeleteI just ask for it to be smooth, natural and bouncy.
DeleteI don't think it has a name sadly. x
They should call it 'The Rosie' !
DeleteTonight I'm going to watch Snow White and the Huntsman. Let's see if her eyebrows will remind me of yours... ;)
ReplyDeleteOoo I haven't seen it yet, let me know if I should! x
DeleteI heard it wasn't very good :/
DeleteOh my god, Rose! Your hair looks INCREDIBLE! I love love love the look of Mel's place.. I wonder what she could do with my eyebrows, tehe. This is fantastic just loved this post. I've been a follower of your blog for a while, I used to live in Hertfordshire but moved to London two days ago, now I'm so excited to try out all the places to eat you've recomended and to visit markets! Love your blog, sweetheart.
ReplyDeleteAhhh welcome Hannah!
DeleteI'm happy I can help! x
I live near Bath, and have been looking for somewhere new to get my hair done!
ReplyDeleteSounds brilliant, will have to check it out when I'm next home from uni & in desparate need of a haircut, etc :)
I love this! In particular, locally owned salons are the way to go. I have never had even a decent hair cut at a chain salon and would not give up my locally owned shop for the world!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post! I currently live in Bath (originally from the US) and have been searching for a great salon that has a good feel to it! Just booked appointments for hair, nails and eye brows!
ReplyDeleteThat was quick!
DeleteI'm a bit jealous that you live in Bath though, it's SO beautiful there xx
I'm thinking I may pop in next time I'm headed past en route to Bristol!
ReplyDeleteGood call.
Deleteoh wow your hair looks incredible! That salon is perfection as well, keep badgering her to come to London, the London salons keep trying to destroy my hair an spirit xxx
ReplyDeleteIs the brown handbag in the 4th picture yours?
ReplyDeleteIf so do you mind telling me where it's from?
Kate x
Hey Kate,
DeleteYes it is, it's from Prada (I'm addicted!)
xx
Your hair has always been completely enviable! I'm just wondering, as I have to go for a cut soon, what exactly do you ask for when you get it cut? "Long layers" etc? I'm not great with hair lingo beyond "please keep the length!!!" xxx
ReplyDeleteI say:
DeleteI want it wavy and natural with some bounce.
I need layers or it all just hangs flat.
Try and keep the length but cut off all the dead ends.
When in doubt, take in a photo of someone with great hair and ask for it like that! x
Are you suggesting we take a picture of you with us? ;) I chopped my hair off (15 inches) last year to donate to cancer patients, but when it grows out, I'm looking forward to layers & fullness again!
DeleteHeather x
maybecommon.blogspot.com
your hair looks incredible and they were right about the 'slugs' ;) you look wonderful - unfortunately Bath and Frome are a little far from Glasgow so the hunt continues for me
ReplyDelete♥ ThankFifi
If you find somewhere in Glasgow let me know! Searching for someone to help me grow out a pixie!
DeleteThank you so much for this recommendation because as it happens I shall be moving to Bath for University in September (if these pesky exams go well, that is!) so now I'll know where to go for all things hair and beauty pampering related so thank you!
ReplyDeleteLucy xxx
You look gorgeous! And that space looks so lovely :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks amazing! I wish I still lived in Bath so I could give it a go. For now I will have to keep looking for the right hairdresser for me.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, the results are amazing you look wonderful though I think anyone who called your pre-plucked eyebrows 'sluggish' is crazy!!
ReplyDeleteRachel x
Your hair looks gorgeous! I can't get over how cute that hairdressers is, I live in Manchester city centre and there is literally NOWHERE like that!
ReplyDeletewww.palindromepoppet.com
Hairdressers looks so lovely! Shame there aren't more places in London like that. I am trying to increase the popularity of my blog, and need to find some amazing places like this!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do with your hair on a day-to-day basis to keep it looking bouncy?
www.capital-compass.com
x
You should do more posts on awesome things in Somerset. I'll definitely keep this salon in mind for my next cut and colour!
ReplyDeleteAhhhhh Melanie Giles! I have my hair cut in her Frome branch and the layout and insides are full-on gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI don't have Melanie herself but Lisa is fab, fab, fab :)
I've been to this salon, it is probably the best haircut I have ever had. I haven't found anything yet that quite compares!!
ReplyDeleteAh, I'm from very near Frome originally and it's so great to see all the exciting shops opening there! It's a gorgeous town.
ReplyDeleteI also had my eyebrows tinted and threaded recently, it made a scary difference to my appearance, I love it!
My take on eyebrows is 'paint them when you need them', no point in having an overdone look all the time ( tattooed eyebrows ). Yours look great. :-)
ReplyDeleteIf there was a salon near me with an interior even half that lovely my life would be complete! I've been searching for the perfect hairdresser for years. If I lived in England instead of America I would book a cut at this salon in a heartbeat! Do you color your hair? The cut and color is just perfect!
ReplyDeleteThis is my first comment, but I've been following your blog for awhile. I'll be heading to the UK for the first time this fall to attend a university abroad, and your blog has given me so many things to be excited about! Thank you :)
Coolest place ever! And you look stunning with those "new" eyebrows!
ReplyDeleteLove your hair, I recently had mine cut short in a hormonal spurt (8 months pregnant) and I hate it. Wish I had some length back. I'm a newbie to your blog and I love it. Moving to London from Ireland after baby arrives so your helping me to get excited!
ReplyDeletewww.ladyfrank.com
Ah when I saw the title of this blog I thought it was a follow up on how you had decorated your 'fixer-upper' flat! Hopefully you write one of those soon :-)
ReplyDeleteoh my lord. The hair is actually amaze.
ReplyDeletewww.frankieisinspiredby.blogspot.com
Oh wow that salon is adorable! Your hair & brows look amazing x
ReplyDeleteVery cool! That place is really like nothing I've ever seen before and I just checked out her blog and love it!
ReplyDeleteWell you know a heck of a lot more about grooming than I did at your age!
ReplyDeleteI swear by a good hairdresser! I have personally only had three in my life and only changed because I moved so far away from them that I had no choice (flying back to France every time I needed a haircut was rather extravagant but I did it for about a year). If you don't live close enough to Rosie's fabulous hairdresser I suggest you always go by recommendation. Always from someone with a great haircut, ... obviously. It is worth spending a bit as a good haircut really lasts and should continue to look good for up to 3 months. It works out to be good value over the long run.
Don't even get me started on eyebrows. At the age of 41 and 10 months I can confirm that they are an instant facelift. Nuf said.
Hi Rose, I'm 18 and I was wondering if you could give me some advice...I really like this boy and I don't know how to talk to him...i know that sounds pathetic...im watching him row in a couple of days...any ideas?? LOVE EVERYTHING U DO!!! xxx
ReplyDeleteHey Anon!
DeleteSooo... how do you know the boy? Do you have any classes together?
Who are you watching him row with, did he invite you?
Rose x
He's my sister's friend's brother and we met at a party, so his parents invited me and my sister as their guests...:) He goes to Eton and I'm at co-ed school xx
DeleteHe's my sister's friend's brother and we met at a party, so his parents invited me and my sister as their guests...:) He goes to Eton and I'm at co-ed school xx
DeleteLooking good lady! I had the same hairdresser my whole life until I moved to Leeds, finding a new one was a very stressful experience! It's a little too far to go now, but if I'm at home at the same time as I need a hair cut I try to book in with Carol! xxx
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about trusting only one person with your hair !
ReplyDeleteWow... such an inspiration! I was in London last week and at the end I always think that with so many cultures, so many people in such an amazing city you have some people that have amazing creativity and can do really good things and live a dream. I always get so inspired in London! Love it!
ReplyDeleteAnd where are your "kicks" from? :)
Thank you!
It's quite ridiculous how I am about finding a good hairdresser. I've gone all way back home to Panama for a good haircut and color. My goodness Melanie has a talent. Your hair is so beautiful, like a model.
ReplyDeleteWhat I love most in her space is the rustic and classic edge look. I like how homey it looks. I totally understand when you say "Find a good hairdresser" and that's what matters most when you want things done and get better results. :) And by the way, you look very pretty ..
ReplyDeleteAw yay! I go to uni in Bath, and I've never seen this place before, it looks incredible! Definitely need to try it :) Josie x x
ReplyDeleteYou definitely look good, loving the snow white eyebrows, and this is a beautiful salon! I'd go to the end of the earth for a great hairdresser, bad hair experiences are just too upsetting..
ReplyDeleteI was going to ask where you got your eyebrows done! Sad to hear it's out of the city! But if you can recommend any in London I would be very grateful :)
ReplyDeleteI also have to get my hair cut back home (Birmingham) I've had so many disappointments from salons in London! But if Melanie needs another excuse to open up shop here I would happily try her out! Love the style of her salon.
This place is to die for! Adore the fact that there isn't a trashy ad for GHDs in sight and that as opposed to generic magnolia that is blatantly a Farrow and Ball colour scheme going on.
ReplyDeleteAs ever, a great blog.
Besos
http://stilettosinthesticks.blogspot.co.uk/
Hooray! As luck would have it, I'm moving to Bath in September and am in need of a great hairdresser. Problem solved.
ReplyDeleteNailed it! Hair is all about the person doing it. In college, I did my hair mostly myself. As a full-fledged adult, I still do my hair but it comes out a hot mess. That is why love my hairdresser. He makes me feel like a million bucks!
ReplyDeleteI so agree! Brow tinting + threading + eyelash tinting (a little unnerving the first time) are the most awesome subtle beauty things that are pretty inexpensive and lasting and make a huge difference. You look super pretty!
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing - I know the feeling of a good hair dresser - I would follow mine anywhere! But... how do you do you're hair before a night out? It always seems to stay so full of volume, even at the end of the night! Fab post! X
ReplyDeleteIs your hair naturally pretty thick or is it the magic of blowouts?
ReplyDeleteso you do wax.... I thought you have done laser hair removal.
ReplyDeleteOh my chubs.
ReplyDeleteWhere are you delicious kicks from ?
x
I am lucky enough to actually live in Frome where the new salon is...It's gone down realy well with everyone! I went there in a last-minute appointment (my other salon let me down) and they were all really nice and helpful, giving me plenty of tips for how to treat my hair and what would suit me...Just a really nice salon! I'll be going there again! :)
ReplyDeleteRosie please do an updated post on all things concerning hair tips xx. I have no way of tracing all my comments to know if they're replied to so I;m just going to home,one of the next posts is this.lol.
ReplyDelete