I’m not a hair-dye virgin, but after spending my teen years bent over a sink going red, blue-black, and dark brown for years, I reverted back to my natural light brown in my early twenties, and stuck with it, growing my hair to boob-length. I liked the low maintenance needed, only going to the hairdressers, if I’m honest, twice a year for a trim. Back in March (and after months of dithering) I braved a bob, and ever since then I’ve been wanting to try out my other hair ambition – going blonde.
I booked in for an appointment with Ellie at Myla and Davis in East Dulwich. A bit of a commute from the central London office and my flat in Clapton, but I’d heard great things about them (and I’m glad I listened). I turned up on a very grey Monday afternoon with a very confused set of reference pictures, ranging from honey blonde to peroxide, and a slight air of panic. Once we’d established that I wanted to go blonde, but had no idea what kind of blonde, Ellie took over – in the nicest way possible – and suggested lots of highlights and a toner.
For the next two hours, I drank tea and chatted to Ellie while she covered my head in foils– apparently there’s a machine that cuts the foil into perfect strips just for this, who knew - and lots of them. Once the peroxide was washed out, a purple toner stopped my blonde from being too yellow. Since I’m pale and light eyed, Ellie mixed up a blonde that’s almost silvery in some places and warmer in others – so it doesn’t wash me out. Ellie cut in some subtle layers so that I can stick with my usual styling regime, which is non-existent – I’m a wash and go kind of girl. A waft of some Bumble and Bumble Dryspun Finish Spray later, and I was staring at a stranger in the mirror.
I love it. So does my boyfriend, he assures me, having had to be talked around to the idea in the first place. The biggest test was my colleagues – the Grazia fashion team, and even more nerve-wracking, the beauty team. I assumed that lighter hair would need less make-up, but it seems to be the reverse – red lipstick is called for, so I’m told, and more bronzer. Though it’s a fine line, and I haven’t nailed it yet, as one of my colleagues asked me if I was being filmed today – too heavy on the mascara, then.
It might only be day two, and I still double-take when I look in the mirror – but I’m definitely a blonde convert.
Myla and Davis have salons in East Dulwich, Brixton and Herne Hill.