Julia

You know those hair products they use in the salons that smell like candy, flowers and freshly baked cupcakes? The ones that make your crowning glory feel like a silky bunny and look shinier than that of a comic book character’s? We all know the drill. As soon as we get home and go back to our Alberto Balsam and Boots’ own brand bottles, our hair begins to resemble a burst couch. How can we get it looking salon fresh every day?
NOT Tresemmé!
We need to find the likes of Redken, Tigi and Kerastase. And here is a handy place, as central as poss, in the Northern Quarter with wall-​to-​wall salon products! It’s right next door to Nexus too so you can always pop in after a lovely sandwich or some soup. Wait a minute, I’m supposed to be reviewing this place. Anyway, not only do you get hot salon brands at distinctly spicy wholesale prices, you even get gargantuan vats of highbrow moisturiser like Jergen’s Naturals. Which I did.
Awesome, awesome and all-​round awesome. Whether the lady at the till was Julia herself or not, she was incredibly pleasant and smiley. Also, FYI, this place does human hair extensions and weaves and all that jazz… I haven’t a clue what any of that involves or how good they are at it here, but I’m judging it on the products.
I’m also judging it on having a little bit of Regent Road TK Maxx syndrome. Over-​zealous shop attendant asking if they can help, that’s all fine, I can deal with that. That same male attendant mumbling something while my iPod earphones are in, though, and me responding, «Sorry?» and hearing, «You have beautiful eyes»? Where do they all come from? I’m going to start a petition against them, unless anyone out there genuinely finds them flattering.