A cut above

Upstairs, via a narrow staircase, is the colour studio. It’s flooded with natural light, and the colourway is identical to downstairs, with one notable exception – bright pink workstations. Hair is washed in the basement, where you recline in massage chairs with footrests. There’s even an in-house chef who will prepare detox menus on request, as well as cocktails for those who are re-toxing.

‘I wanted to blend the old with the new,’ says Bernard, ‘avoiding a Gothic look by using bright spots of colour against the deep burgundy. The overall concept is indulgence, which I tried to achieve through colour and extra touches such as wallpaper and pendant lighting [designed by Target Living]. I designed to the building’s strengths, using all the space well by having a separate colour room upstairs where there is a lot of natural light.’

According to Bishop, ‘The time is right for an alternative to today’s tired, impersonal salon formula.’ But, as Bernard points out, ‘It was important not to forget [Sejour] is a living, working hairdresser, which demands certain criteria and lots of space.’

Bernard is launching some of the pieces created for Sejour, such as the mirrors, in her first collection in September. Well-heeled, and well-coiffed, clients will then be able to take a little piece of Sejour home with them.