Fast forward to 2022 and Servilles has become something of a hairdressing institution, today spawning three luxury salons in Auckland as well as a world-class hairdressing academy.
Servilles flagship salon may be in the heart of Newmarket, but tucked away on Short Street it feels like a tranquil retreat in the midst of a busy retail and hospitality scene. The interior of the salon has a natural, delicate vibe that feels very luxe without going over the top – soothing hints of greenery compliment the modern and sleek fit out. As soon as I open the door I am warmly welcomed, my coat put away neatly and my shoulders drop as the hustle and bustle of daily life floats away. This is the swish salon you can feel totally relaxed in; there’s not a hint of the pretentiousness you might expect from top-quality hairdressers.
Salon Manager Olivia Davies has been in the industry for 15 years and it’s clear that she’s a born manager of creative people, within 5 minutes of meeting her I can tell that her team inspire her as much as she inspires them. We have a chat about how I normally wear my hair, my lifestyle and routine, and she thankfully doesn’t judge me for my admittedly haphazard hair-care regime of late. I’m here today for a simple and straightforward Blow Wave – taut and straight with a middle parting. I’ll never break up with the Blow Wave – I have blown my coarse hair straight, or ceded the task to a professional, my entire life. There’s something soothing about it, I love the the sensation of straight hair running up my neck as I untuck it from a jacket collar, the way it moves naturally in the wind and delivers just the right amount of polish.
Olivia guides me over to the shampoo bar where she explains that they have now designated this area to be a “quiet zone”, giving me permission to close my eyes and enjoy the sensation of being pampered and looked after. Later, Olivia will explain that the “quiet zone” came into effect as we re-entered the world post lockdown, giving both Stylists and clients a chance to escape from what we know we were all guilty of – that constant chatter of alert levels and restrictions. It’s had such a positive response that they’ve chosen to keep it in place – and the overall result is that the shampoo bar feels more like a spa than a salon. A place just to be, with no pressure to make conversation and very little stimulus other than the soothing feel of having my hair washed and scalp massaged.
Back in my stool I was presented with a tea menu while Olivia blow waved my locks, leaving my hair feeling soft, silky and frizz free. We spoke about my concerns around split ends, and Olivia suggested we apply Davies Nourishing Keratin Sealer, a protective fluid that doesn’t need rinsing. Olivia explained that it works to seal hair cuticles, increasing their brightness and softness while at the same time strengthening the hair fibre to prevent split ends.
While my visit today was for a simple Blow Wave, Servilles boasts a wide service menu for their clients to choose from, whether you’re after a colour, cut, treatment or styling. Overall, the flagship Servilles Salon in Newmarket combines everything that has made Servilles so enduringly successful for over 37 years – high level customer service combined with experienced hair stylists who really listen to their clients.
Friendly, tailored and pleasingly unpretentious, this is exactly what a luxe local salon should look like in 2022.
Servilles Salons: www.servilles.com
Shop Davines Online: https://shop.servilles.com
(PS: They offer 15% off your first online purchase!)
Words: Ashlee Lala
