Eleven, Hair Salon, Mayfair

I have to admit I am getting a little addicted to salon blow-dries: I leave each time with a noticeable skip in my step, imagining that I’m in a l’Oreal advert. Tragic, I know. Last week I took my dull, lank post-Christmas hair along to Eleven, hungry for a boost.

Eleven is a smart boutique salon in Mayfair, moments from Bond Street station. In fact, located, as the name suggests, at number 11 Blenheim Street. The four founders are experts in different aspects of hairdressing, excelling at colouring, cutting, extensions and special styling. Inside the salon is warm and friendly, clients and staff chatting excitedly… I was sitting next to an eccentric jazz singer who was explaining her elaborate New Year celebrations.

My lovely stylist for the day, Rebecca, surveyed my hair, running her fingers through professionally to gauge what it needed. I was given the most luxurious hair wash, with a glossy treatment to strengthen and add shine. The head massage was amazing, the lovely girl spent fifteen minutes pampering me, taking real care and making me feel extra special and relaxed, I could have fallen asleep.

Rebecca then carefully dried my hair, so thoroughly that it appeared a paler shade. Adding soft curls with tongs made the overall style lighter and prettier, I was delighted. Finally she spritzed me with hairspray so that the waves would hold for a few days and I was done.

Eleven Hair is a gorgeous salon in the heart of London, with approachable, smiley stylists on hand to help you achieve perfect hair.

Visit the Eleven website here to book.

Mount Street May Fayre party

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I turned up at The Mount Street Party a few nights ago. I had been sent the invitation from a friend and was mostly just excited about the prospect of a free glass of fizz. After undergoing intensive renovation this fashionable London shopping street is re-open for business and so to celebrate, the luxurious boutiques threw a party.

Mayfair, London’s smartest district, originally received its name from the annual two week May Fayre held in Shepherds Bush market from 1686 until it was banned for being too rowdy and disruptive. 325 years later Mount Street is once again remembering this historic occasion, with celebrations over the whole month of May. The street is home to many Flagship designer stores- Marc Jacobs, Christian Louboutin, Lanvin and Balenciaga, Azzaro and Stephen Webster to name a few.

My office is located just a few minutes walk away so it was easy to pop along after work last week, fitting it in just before a theatre excursion. It was the perfect day for a party, blazing sun and a gentle breeze. An awards ceremony had just finished round the corner so celebrities were running riot in the local posh drinking houses. Once in the midst of the events it was difficult to choose where to go first, smiling faces greeting me outside every shop, each offering an exciting cocktail or canapé. Entertainers and adorned women on stilts coloured the street with their bright costumes, and in one corner there were musicians and dancers.

I was ushered into an intriguing shop, pungent with the smell of white spirit in the air and men working furiously inside. This brilliantly light space is soon to be a new concept gallery, called Shizaru. They will exhibit fabulously unique pieces, some traditional antique artefacts, other highly inventive new works and sculptures. Scattered around were several wonderful pieces, a giant swirling bowl of clear liquid particularly caught my eye. Before dashing off I needed to eat something, so we wandered around the other shops picking up barbequeued sausages from Allens (the high end meat shop visited by Apprentice contestants), a glass of fresh lemonade from The Connaught and ice creams from the lovely lady outside Louboutin. Champagne was flowing and I was lucky enough to get one of the most deliciously fragrant glasses of Pimms I have ever tasted from the famous Scott’s bar and restaurant.

Just before running to the theatre we popped into Sautter Cigar shop to look at the collection, and munch on their superior nibbles. Men outside were suited and booted in the finest outfits while puffing away on their fat cigars. This was the loveliest of May Fayres, which is what you would expect from the exclusive Mayfair road - Mount Street.