THE PERFECT SALON EXPERIENCE

With four locations across south east London, Myla and Davis is all about enhancing, not dominating, the local area

HJ spoke to Zea Tongeman, the Social Media Manager at Myla and Davis, from outside their East Dulwich branch, where the ethos of the much-loved south east London salon group is really brought to life. “Our owner Katya [Milavic Davies] is obsessed with shop exteriors and how they reflect the community,” she explained. “At Myla and Davis, we like to stand out, but we never want to dominate any part of the community. We have an overall Myla and Davis aesthetic, but each salon has its own identity.” In fact, each salon front is painted a different colour – East Dulwich is a sage green, Deptford a natural stone shade, Brixton a rich navy blue and Herne Hill a salmon pink. They all work seamlessly together as a colour palette, but each salon very much has its own character.

From the outset, founder and Managing Director Katya had a clear design vision, and the team worked with a joiner to realise that dream. For Katya, Myla and Davis is all about working with original, existing features. Herne Hill, for example, was originally a betting shop with a “gorgeous pink terazzo floor”. According to Zea, the team chose salmon pink for the shop exterior, because “although it is relatively neutral, it still stands out on the street.”

As a company, Myla and Davis is not just about embracing the individuality of their salon spaces, but the uniqueness of their stylists too. “In terms of hairdressing, we build on what our stylists come to us with. We allow them to embrace their individuality as a stylist. We have an in-house training academy, so we’re always looking to nurture new and passionate people, and they don’t necessarily have to be a hairdesser already,” explains Zea. So far, so wholesome – and when you add in the home-from-home interiors, the partnerships with local businesses and the all-important local coffee, you can see why Myla and Davis is a great place to be. “We sit at the heart of our communities and work with many local small businesses – for example all our books are from a nearby bookshop, in East Dulwich our wine and coffee is local and we always get involved in school fairs giving away prizes.”

“IT WAS ALWAYS A NO-BRAINER TO GO FOR TAKARA BELMONT CADILLA STYLING CHAIRS, THEY WORK WELL WITH THE SIMPLICITY OF OUR SERVICES.”

When it came to furniture, the team didn’t deliberate for long on what to choose. “It was always a no-brainer to go for Takara Belmont Cadilla Styling Chairs, they work well with the simplicity of our services,” explains Zea. “We have the same chair across all the salons – black chairs were the best option for us as they’re low-key, easy to clean and work well with every décor. Takara Belmont are unmatched with their service, we worked with the Moda team and together they helped realise our vision.”

To passers by, you might think that the Myla and Davis salons are coffee shops or local lifestyle stores. “We’ve had our moments when we’re like, 'is it obvious enough that we’re a salon?'” jokes Zea. But therein lies the charm – a salon front and interior so intriguing you can’t help but come in off the high street…

Recreate the Look

Cadilla Styling Chair

Cadilla's popularity has endured for decades, gracing all kinds of hairdressing, beauty and grooming settings. With three versions -Cadilla (styling chair), Cadilla M (multi-purpose) and Cadilla BW (backwash) salons can achieve seamless design and service continuity from the salon floor to the backwash. Cadilla’s classic design, strength and gender neutral appeal continues to inspire salons all over the world.

£1,530-£1,610

RS Primo

Take every backwash experience to new levels of luxury, comfort and precision with the RS Primo. Its deep cushioned adjustable seat and padded side panels support your client in comfort, as its reclining backrest and extending leg-rest ensures they are perfectly positioned to enjoy their service. A wide, deep and adjustable tilting basin equipped with a gel-filled neck rest for added comfort and support, thermostatic water temperature control and a newly designed showerhead that regulates water volume and pressure.

£4,000

All Takara Belmont products are available with 0%, zero deposit Finance Lease. Visit www.takarahairdressing.co.uk for details