Exclusivity for ALL

Take a look inside the Essex-based salon taking design cues from high-end boutiques and members’ clubs

“We both loved the idea of bringing everything we had learned from the fashion world back to the high street.”

Dean Beavis and Ben Gregory began their careers in the fashion industry, styling hair for photoshoots and runway shows across the globe as a duo. However, after years of travelling, Dean felt drawn back to working more personally with clients in a salon environment. Ben explains: “We both loved the idea of bringing everything we had learned from the fashion world back to the high street – so Dean stepped away from session work and opened our own salon.”

The Gregory Dean ethos is all about translating luxury fashion into an accessible salon experience. While they opened their Leigh-on-Sea salon in 2011, at the beginning of 2026 they decided the space needed a refresh. “It was beautiful, but it was time to step into our new era,” Ben shares. Following the renovation, the duo describes the interior as “glamorous, high-end and tasteful – but balanced with a calm, comfortable and approachable atmosphere.”

Interestingly, the whole design started with the flooring – a cream porcelain tile with a bold, black Art Deco-inspired pattern. “We knew we needed to be ‘Instagramable’ and thought that a statement floor was a good way to go,” Ben explains. The rest of the salon design flowed from here, with a blend of raw materials such as wood and marble featuring throughout. “A real talking point is the gold marble-effect wallpaper, which adds to the glamour of the space while keeping that raw, textural feel we love – especially when the light hits it.”

Ben and Dean sourced specialist salon furniture from Salon Ambience and Living It Up Salon, blending practicality with design so that nothing felt overly clinical or out of place within the space. The salon boasts 13 styling sections, six of which are positioned in central banks within the larger salon area to help maintain an open, sociable energy. Two of these sections were specifically designed with curly and textured hair clients in mind, with reclining chairs making diffusing and styling more comfortable, ensuring these services feel elevated rather than an afterthought. Meanwhile, the four backwashes are located in the separate basin room – a darker space designed to feel darker, calmer and more cocooning than the main salon floor.

In fact, the whole salon looks (and feels) different in each area, in what was an intentional decision. “Different stages of the appointment require different energies,” Ben highlights. “The salon floor is about creativity, precision and transformation, while the basin room is about comfort and escape.” Hospitality also plays a crucial role in the salon experience. “We offer fresh bean-to-cup coffee, a selection of herbal teas, soft drinks, filtered and sparkling water, and even an iced matcha latte of the month,” Ben shares. Then there are the finer details of the design – colourful glass spoons, worn terracotta sugar pots, curated fashion books dotted throughout the salon. “These small touches elevate the space beyond a typical high street salon and make it feel more like a boutique hotel or members’ club,” Ben notes.