Well, first it’s quick. Took about 43. Ok, minutes not seconds, but heck that’s fast – dainty trim this wasn’t, I was in it for the real thing: a brand new cut. George Northwood is his name – and right now, he is London’s hottest snipper. And Alexa Chung is in the Kelly-Birkin realms of cool with a Mulberry, no, the Mulberry bag named after her: the Alexa bag is Mulberry’s biggest seller. As for her hair, it’s cute, sassy, sexy and just the right amount of rock chick without looking grubby.
I’d booked into see him on his new patch at the uber-cool, Josh Wood Atelier in Holland Park. I knew that he was the man who could give me a ‘haircut with personality.’ To use the words of my dear friend Alice. We discussed this idea of the personality cut. It may seem a vague notion to most, but he got it in one. It had to go shorter, give me a much needed lift, look snappy, cool, sassy – ‘a bit like Alexa Chung’, said George. ’Yes, that’s exactly it,’ I replied having clean forgot that he cut her hair. The joy of serendipity.
I also picked up a few tips from my hair washer to help solve oily roots. First, always rinse with warm not hot water. Too hot and the oil glands in the scalp rebel (in other words, oilier quicker). Second, use an oil-balancing shampoo which will cleanse without stripping (he used Wella SP Balance Scalp). Third, try an oil balancing scalp treatment once a week. My dextrous cleans-alist combined a volumising and oil-balancing treatment, both by Wella, and applied them to my scalp as he shampooed my hair. For home use, there’s Wella SP Balance Scalp Lotion, which I would recommend for soothing a slightly itchy, uncomfy, oil prone scalp.
As for my cut, I love the result – bit of a long fringe, an off centre parting, chin length and cut in that choppy manner that works so well when you’re just north of 40 and want a lift without a needle.
George Northwood is at Josh Wood Atelier, 6 Lansdowne Mews, W11, +44 (0) 203 393 0977
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I’ve been trying for Alexa hair for years. She’s got such style. Can’t wait to see yours xxx
love the idea of an ‘intelligent’ haircut and know exactly what you mean. How much would it cost for a real person (ie not us journos) to visit?
Hello Beauty Hauler, great to hear from you. George’s fee is £250, but there are plenty of other great hairdressers out there who charge a lower fee. The big names tend to charge a higher fee as you know. Yes I don’t ignore the fact that I’m lucky enough as a beauty journalist to be able to road test treatments for free. Have a look at the piece I wrote for Stylist on why I think it’s worth spending a little extra on a good hair cut, if you feel you can stretch to it.
[...] George Northwood is at Josh Wood Atelier – Emma Hill [...]
Would LOVE to try, but 250 is way out of my price range. How are mere mortals supposed to know who is a good, normal-priced cutter without trying them all individually?