THE PERFECT SALON EXPERIENCE

New Soho salon Santiago Figueroa London shows that upcycling can be chic, characterful and effortless

Reclaiming, upcycling and giving back to the community are at the heart of Santiago Figueroa London, a new salon based in London’s Soho. “Anything that we can give a second life to we do, that’s our company ethos,” explains owner Santiago Figueroa, or Santi for short. From the salon furniture to the community projects it supports, when purchasing the business in 2022 Santi always wanted to give back and make sure the salon had an eco focus. He states: “At Santiago Figueroa London we want to make the world a better place, and what better way than to start within ourselves?”

When Santi purchased the business in 2022, he was happy to note that the chairs in the salon were Takara Belmont. He got them serviced by a specialist and they were given a new lease of life. “Takara Belmont products are built well, and the quality is exceptional. Every pound spent, is well spent,” he comments.

The colour scheme is firmly grounded – in more ways than one. Centring on pink, beige and earthy tones, clients get a warm welcome as soon as they step foot inside the space. The natural, earthy feel of the salon continues with the terracotta tones on the walls, oak wood floor and plants that adorn the shelves.

The lighting in the salon starts with feature lighting around the reception area and backwash. There are 45 LED Tala bulbs decorating the entrance and for the styling and colour area, a neutral white helps the team to get true-to-tone results. Across the salon, LED strips have been placed across the counter tops and shelves to give an illusion of more space. “Lighting for me is everything. I personally think that warm, creamy, and bright colours always project a good energy. I love a bright space, so I made sure that the lighting was distributed properly across the salon. All the lights are LED and energy-saving to reduce our carbon footprint too,” he explains.

Santi wants to make positive change. “At the salon we don’t just teach our teams to be ecofriendly, we also teach them about life values,” Santi says. “From being appreciative of clients, who have chosen to spend their time and money with us, to supporting our local communities. We have a partnership with a charity which helps homeless people get back on the job ladder – and we offer them complimentary haircuts to boost their confidence.”

“TAKARA BELMONT PRODUCTS ARE BUILT WELL, AND THE QUALITY IS EXCEPTIONAL. EVERY POUND SPENT, IS WELL SPENT.”

There are exciting plans for Santi in 2023, with the business set to expand. “For now, I plan to carry on using our Takara Belmont chairs – but once they need replacing, we'll definitely be getting more from the brand. We plan on replacing our wash basins, and they will be Takara Belmont too!” Santi notes that his clients always mention how comfortable the chairs are – ideal for those long colouring sessions. “You want to make sure you give your clients the best of the best,” he concludes. And at Santiago Figueroa London, the best things in life are… upcycled.

Recreate the Look

Dainty Grooming Chair

Sleek design, 360 (lockable) rotation and a reclining backrest make the Dainty one of Takara Belmont's most sought after chairs. It features an adjustable, removable headrest, upholstered padded armrests and a footrest. Select from a range of upholstery colours, custom options and bases to enhance every grooming experience. £1,420 - £1,810

RS Prime

Elevate every backwash with the RS Prime, delivering featurerich specification at the backwash. Its removable gel-filled neck cushion cradles your client's head in comfort, as the 16º tilt-mechanism ensures unhindered access for the backwash technician. With thermostatic control that regulates water pressure and temperature, and a free-swivelling intelligent shower-head with a retracting cord, a premium shampoo service is assured every time. £2,750

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