The other week I was invited to try out the new RUSH salon in Manchester. I took an early train from Sheffield and as always, it rained all the way to Manchester. I was hopeful that the rain would ease off on my arrival (spoiler, it didn’t stop raining all day).
It only took me 15 minutes to walk to RUSH from Piccadilly train station. The salon is located just ’round the corner from Selfridges and Harvey Nichols on Deansgate. It’s nestled between Cafè Nero and Subway so it’s very easy to find.
What I really like about this salon is that it opens late into the evenings throughout the working week and they also open on a Sunday. These times are perfect for popping in after work or over the weekend
I arrived early to escape the rain and the staff were all very welcoming. I was delighted to discover that I would be having my hair done by Toby, the salon manager. He listened to what I wanted, looked at the photos I pulled up on Pinterest (I hope everyone else does this) and then suggested a few ideas. I didn’t want anything too crazy, I simply wanted to get rid of split ends and have it shaped around my face. At the moment I need a style that’s easy to manage. I felt at ease in the salon and confident that Toby knew what I wanted.
After a relaxing hair wash Toby got to work on tidying up my hair. We chatted away throughout my time at the salon. It’s nice when it’s easy to speak to a hairdresser and the conversation doesn’t feel forced or awkward.
Toby told me all about the history of RUSH and if you’ve been reading Prettygreentea for a while you’ll know that I love a good business story. The first salon was co-founded by Andy Phouli and Stell Andrew 22 years ago in Wimbledon. There are now over 70 salons across the UK and they’ve won many awards.
I was offered a variety of drinks, including a glass of wine. Unfortunately it was a little too early for wine but maybe next time. On this occasion I went for a black coffee and it came along with my favourite Lindt Hazelnut chocolates. I can’t eat much dairy these days (check out my new blog – Dairy Free Daisy) so I had to use all my willpower not to have one. If you find yourself in the salon you must give these chocolates a try, they’re delicious.
I thought the choice of drinks and snacks were a really nice touch. It’s not often you’re offered a glass of wine in a salon and if you’re there for a long treatment then I think a crisp glass of white will go down very well.
The salon is very chic and modern with monochrome decor. Although it’s a very smart salon it’s still inviting and friendly because of the staff and the relaxed atmosphere. The salon chairs are also really comfy which makes a nice change.
I always ask for my hair to be blow dried, it just looks so much better with extra volume and curls. Toby used some lovely products on my hair from the L’Oréal Professionnel Techni Art Range. He talked me through everything he used and even gave me some tips to style my hair at home. One of my favourites was the Root Lift Spray Mousse. You simply spray the product into the roots of your hair and then style. Much easier and more effective than the ones you spray into your hand.
Doesn’t my hair look lovely? I was so happy with the finished result. I’ll be popping in again for a cut or at least a blow dry. It was an all-round excellent experience. I felt welcomed by the team, relaxed in the salon and totally trusted Toby with my hair. I know it can be a daunting experience to try out a new salon but if you’re in Manchester then I highly recommend RUSH.
I had to take a snap of the front of my hair inside because it was still raining when I left the salon. My hair felt fresh and bouncy and despite the heavy Manchester rain I went on to have a lovely day meeting up with a couple of good friends.