Rush Moorgate, 36-38 Moorgate, London EC2M 5TR, 020 7871 0353, www.rush.co.uk
Atmosphere: Rush Moorgate is one of the latest outposts from the Rush string of salons founded 15 years ago by Andrew Phouli and Stelios Andrew. Phouli is currently British Hairdressing Awards Business Director of the Year and the company has garnered a fistful of hairdressing nominations and awards. The two are rapidly expanding the company, which has more than 40 locations around London and Southern England. This one has the sleek, black and silver monochromatic look that’s become standard issue for hairsalons in recent years .
Experience: Any good stylist can cut and style my hair so it looks good in the salon. It takes a great one to create a style that dazzles once I’ve had my mitts on it.
A sloppy way with a round brush, an underpowered hairdryer, natural texture that goes from smooth to Brillo pad in a lightning strike - these are the hallmarks of my style. I have a look only a beauty-supply company could love.
So when Emma Sherman at the new Rush salon in Moorgate said she had an idea for something “fun”, I knew what was coming. A razor cut with jagged edges. A Pob? Maybe even a perm? Hairdressers who want to give you “fun” new looks are like hot new dance crazes - they seem like a good idea when you’re drunk. It’s the morning after you have to worry about.
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Not that I wasn’t in good hands. Sherman is the salon manager for Rush Moorgate. For reasons unknown even to myself, I allowed her near my hair with plans for an “asymmetrical” cut and a gleam in her eye. (The last time that happened I was in my hometown in Texas, where I received a lopsided bob that high school friends still recall with a smirk.)
Yet this haircut - shorter in back, sitting at slightly different levels in the front - was shaped to flip in an insouciant way, even without the benefit of a round brush or straightening iron. It was layered to release the full glory of my waves. After the salon blowdry it looked fabulous. But even more surprising, after my next shower it also looked good. It worked after going to the gym, it worked coming straight from the beach, coated with salt and sand. It even worked with a hat.
I’ve had some very good cuts from some very nice hairdressers who really know how to style. Yet at last I may have found something I really need: a stylist who’s smart enough to know just how dumb I am.
Wallet watch: Cuts range from £43 to £72 and a full head of highlights ranges from £95 to £150.
Rush Romford opened last week.