Salon Review: Umberto Giannini, Harvey Nichols, Manchester
Jennifer O’Shea
The Umberto Giannini salon is located in Harvey Nichols, a mere stones throw away from Manchester’s Victoria Station. A monochrome, minimalist space features a stand-alone blow dry bar (super popular with Saturday’s pre-party revellers) where you can simply pop in looking dull and disheveled and re-emerge a glamour puss in waiting.
James was my colourist and stylist for the appointment. He advised he would ‘warm up’ my cool blonde tone with a mix of golden hue’s to re-inject some depth and texture into my barnet.
Instead of the usual colour application using foil, James used a material known as ‘colour mesh’ which unlike the traditional foil which have a tendency to crinkle close to the root application, the colour mesh strips allowed him to apply colour to the very root resulting in maximum colour coverage. Whats ‘s not to love?
After the colour had been applied I browsed the stack of glossy magazines all situated on the communal central visitor’s bar which means should you have your other half in tow there is no awkward two-seater sofa for waiting men folk around here!
Once the colour had developed James applied a toner to combat any dreaded brassiness. He shampooed using Umberto Giannini Volume shampoo followed by Umberto Giannini conditioner.
A healthy trim was in order followed by a request for James’ specialty -‘the bouncy blow dry’, and boy was he on the money.
I emerged a couple of hours later with glossy golden locks and quite frankly looking like a footballer on my arm would be an absolute necessity. So if you are a ‘wag’ in the making, pop in and pay James a visit as he really is king of the bouncy blow dry.
Umberto Giannini
HARVEY NICHOLS. 21 NEW CATHEDRAL STREET. M1 1AD. T +44 (0)161 828 8840
umbertogiannini.com/salons