Walking into WhiP Salon feels like entering a ’70s time capsule. Embellished with vinyl records, retro mirrors and vibrant wallpaper, it’s a far cry from the minimalist interior trend that has punctured 90% of the city’s hairdressers, spas and coffee houses. In fact, James, WhiP’s Creative Director, appears to have decorated with the utmost care, sourcing an eclectic mix of furnishings ranging from his grandmother’s vintage lamps to custom-made salon chairs from Japan.
But there’s more to this place than surface charm. WhiP opened up a couple of years ago in the heart of Hackney Central and have another location at Hatch in Homerton – a sign that they’re pretty popular. Plus, they’ve gone all-in for a contemporary market: using only vegan hair products and embracing gender neutral pricing.
Despite me not being the most adventurous of hair clients, the WhiP staff made me feel instantly at home. We spoke about hair care, ideas for my new cut, and I was offered a wide variety of drinks including beer, wine and tea. Then they got to the chop. The whole experience was breezy, took under an hour and I left with a stylish Farrah Fawcett-esque fringe – one that I was very pleased to have been talked into. Plus, the blissful head massage and comfy salon chairs were a real perk.