Miss Jones Event with Errol Douglas Salon

Finally, finally, I get around to posting about this. 

About a month ago now, I attended an event at the Errol Douglas Hair Salon, which was organised by Miss Jones. 

Now, I attended as a journalist to cover the event, and to be perfectly honest, I initially wasn't too excited. 

I was already meant to be attending an event on the Barracuda London Eye, that looked absolutely stunning (it's a river cruiser that can be hired out for events) not to mention two of the ladies I work with were going with me. 

So when this came along, I ended up being sent, as I'm the only writer on the team - this was seen as more relevant to the magazine, and so needed more coverage.

So I toddled off on my own, gloomily contemplating how much fun Liliya and Nat were having together, when I started to actually look around. 

You see, when the event said 'Knightsbridge' as the location, I didn't have a clue about the area (geography was never my strong point) so the whole time I was thinking 'where even is this place, oh God, it's in the back of beyond...etc etc.'

But the closer I got to my destination the more this started to happen:

'...is that Harrods? It is isn't it...'

'Oh look...a Christian Louboutin shop...'

'...there are an awful lot of designer shops about, aren't there....'

'Goodness, everything's very white and clean...'

'That woman has a small dog in her handbag. I wasn't aware that actually happened.'

Seems Knightsbridge, and  even more so Belgravia (where the salon was), is pretty upscale. Who knew? So I was definitely a bit more excited by this point. 

And then I stepped into the salon, and it was gorgeous. Gorgeous. 

At this point I was warmly greeted by the team running the event, and offered champagne. LOTS of champagne.

It got better though - I'd thought that even if the event was fantastic, I wouldn't be getting the same treatment as the other guests. F.Y.I. the event was a private evening, attended by six top PAs, with blow-dries and hand massages all round. Helena Bonham-Carter's PA was there for goodness sake, I was definitely going to have to lurk in the background taking notes, being as unnoticeable as possible.

It completely didn't happen like that at all though, as everyone there was incredibly lovely. The whole salon seemed to have the ethos that everyone who comes to the salon gets star treatment, no matter who they are or where they're from, which was particularly refreshing.

I ended up getting the full package, including my hair cut by Errol Douglas himself. 

Oh yeah, and did you know he has an MBE in services to hairdressing? And his client list includes Brad Pitt, Kelly Brook, Cat Deeley and Kelly Rowland? And it costs 'From £300' to have a hair cut with him??

I didn't, I found this out on the night, overhearing one guest whispering all this to another guest. I really should have googled before attending...

The event was catered for by Rococo (I may have mentioned them before) and they had some fairly unusual things on offer, including chocolate & cheese canapes.

Yup, you heard right, chocolate and cheese. Those are orange chocolate wafers with manchego cheese and candied orange above. Most surprisingly, they were actually pretty good.

This was the big 'un though. This was my point of reference for the whole night. If at any point I found myself with nothing to do, I'd just gravitate to this.

Chocolate covered coffee beans - didn't try as I'm not a coffee drinker, but have it on good authority they were very nice.

Goats cheese and chocolate wafers with lemon zest.

You know when you think things can't get any better, and they do? Like when you're sat with your new haircut, massaged hands, and a glass of champagne, and the lady next to you says, 'Oh, and I mustn't forget to give you your goodie bags, as they're special press ones!'

Oh yes, goodie bags. Plural. Three in total as it turned out. First one was full of Rococo goodies. Prepare yourself for an image overload, as I'm going to let the pictures do the talking...

(Left to Right) Jasmine Green Tea, Rose Lychee & Raspberry,  Lemon Praline, Popping Champagne, Irish Coffee.

Manjari Madagascar Single Origin, Griotte Sour Cherry, Orange Mango & Passionfruit.

Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh Chocolate.

Drooling yet? ;) 

The only thing I'll say though, is that I couldn't taste a lot of the supposed flavours. Maybe my palate just isn't refined enough?

Another Belgravia-based salon, Qmsmedicosmetics, was at the event, doing hand massages whilst guests were having their hair done. Really, while I was sat with my hair being cut, one hand being massaged and covered in all sorts of products, with a waiter hovering, attempting to force feed me canapes, I had an epiphany, 

This is why people sell their souls for money. So they can do this every day.

I don't really know what they did to my hands, and I was in such a state of Nirvana I wasn't able to concentrate on anything (maybe that's why the handbag-dog ladies have such a glassy look, it's a salon-induced coma!) but my hands were baby soft afterwards, and I thought the woman who did my massage was really sweet and friendly.

I also took this away with me - a hand cream (which is apparently £20 normally. Really, who pays £20 for a hand cream? It's not big either =.=) and a gift certificate for a 30 minute express facial. I thought I might book my mum into this as an early birthday present :)

To be brutally honest, this is a really nice hand cream, but I wouldn't pay £20 for it. 

It's called Hand Care and is:

Anti-aging, intensely moisturising and uniquely protective; QMS Medicosmetics Hand Care is the perfect treatment for hands. Devised to be instantly absorbed with no greasy residue, this highly effective formulation uses a special combination of lipids to nurture the skin’s natural moisture and nutrients storage against the early signs of ageing.

Hmm, maybe that's why I wasn't so impressed, it's not like my hands are ageing yet, so I haven't been able to see any anti-ageing-ness going on? Maybe when I'm actually concerned about those things I'l be willing to shell out £20 for a hand cream, but not just yet.

The texture is nice, and it is non-greasy and instantly absorbed...etc so it's nice to use when I'm working so I don't get hand cream all over the keyboard :)

The best of the lot though? The gym bag full of MoroccanOil products. And I do mean gym-bag. In the picture below you should be able to make out the white bag they all came in. My arm was about to drop off by the time I got home.

Now, truthfully, I'm never sure products like these are worth as much as the asking price, because how on earth do they justify giving away such a huge amount for free?

This bag had 'everything you need to recreate the perfect salon blow-dry at home', and all the products were full sized. Seriously, all full sized, plus another bag with travel sizes.

I'd vaguely heard of MoroccanOil before, and that there was a lot of hype about these being 'miracle' products. Basically, they all contain Argan oil, which is the same stuff in Miracle Oil..etc and is used as a hair treatment.

After a month of using these and nothing else on my hair, I'm definitely impressed.

This is the most expensive of the bunch, the real-deal, pure Moroccanoil treatment. In my bag there was a full size 100ml bottle, and smaller 25ml bottle (which I gave to my friend Lauren) and a very small 10ml tester bottle.

This stuff is really really really good. Really. 

I use this when my hair is damp after washing, and it makes it dry so soft and smooth. when you use it before blow drying or straightening it acts as a heat protectant and makes hair so soft and shiny.

They say:

Moroccanoil Treatment’s really versatile, nourishing and residue-free formula can be used as a conditioning, styling and finishing tool. It blends perfectly with other products and even speeds up drying time. This treatment for hair completely transforms and repairs as its formula transports lost proteins for strength; fatty acids, omega-3 oils and vitamins for shine; and antioxidants for protection. It absorbs instantly to fill gaps in hair created by heat, styling and environmental damage.

This does what it says on the tin. 
Ultimate proof though? Lauren, the friend I gave the 25ml bottle to, has very damaged, super curly hair, and she absolutely loved this. Said it made her hair 'feel like actual hair' (apparently her hair doesn't usually feel like hair...) and will definitely purchase a full size bottle when the 25ml one runs out. 
Which won't be for a while by the way, as you only need a tiny amount for it to work.

You can get the 100ml bottle for £30.45, and the 25ml bottle for £12.85 on Feel Unique. If you were to get anything from this range, I would wholeheartedly recommend the treatment oil, I can't live without it now, and actually do think it's worth the price!

This is also now a staple in my arsenal, the Moroccanoil luminous hairspray with strong flexible hold. I didn't own any hairspray, and had been looking for some, so this was probably the most useful thing in the bag for me. 

What's more, I think this is fantastic quality. I've had many bad experiences with hairspray, either with it being sticky, too strong, turning my hair into a birds nest, or just not doing anything at all. 

This gives really good hold, but literally feels like nothing is there. It makes hair look glossy and smell nice too, as it has argan oil in it.

They say:

Luminous Hairspray is formulated with a combination of highly sophisticated ingredients infused with argan oil. This lightweight and workable hairspray offers a long-lasting, flexible hold, without leaving a sticky residue. It is ideal for creating and maintaining soft, natural styles. It can be brushed out easily without weighing the hair down and provides a reflective shine shield that fights frizz and humidity.

This retails for £16.65 on Feel Unique, which is a horrendous price for a hairspray considering most drugstore ones are a couple of quid.  However, I'm most tempted to repurchase this out of everything, as I get the most use out of it. I think I'll see how long it lasts, to get an idea of value for price.

This is Glimmer Shine Spray...

...a finishing spray that attracts and reflects light to give hair a gorgeous gloss. Infused with argan oil, vitamins and antioxidants, it creates an invisible veil of luminous shine and protects hair against environmental elements such as sun, salt water and chlorine. Glimmer Shine can also be used to enhance color and highlights, adding the perfect touch to any style.

I use this as a shine spray when I'm going out in the evening, but probably won't repurchase this when I run out. 

For me, I think the effect this gives tends to err on the side of greasy. It does add a lot of shine, and is great for a going out look, but I usually have to wash my hair the day after I use this, as it will look very greasy when I wake up. 

The plus side of this is it's relatively good value for money, as you only need to use this very sparingly.

This is £18.65 from Feel Unique

I was especially happy to find these two in the bag - MoroccanOil Moisture Repair Shampoo & Conditioner.

Having had extremely long hair for most of my life, maintaining it has been one of my main priorities. 

I have something of a hierarchy beauty-wise, of what I'm willing to spend more on, and hair care is pretty near the top. I normally use Kerastase shampoo and conditioner, and absolutely swear by it. 

It's hugely expensive, but the few times I've gone back to Herbal Essences, I haven't been able to stand it - the difference is enormous. When I use drugshop shampoos and conditioners now, I can see that my hair is noticeably more lank and dull after use, gets greasy quicker, and generally feels 'coated'. 

However, paying between £12 - £16 each for shampoo and conditioner is an awful lot, so to get some nice shampoo and conditioner for free made me ridiculously happy.

And it is nice shampoo and conditioner. This stuff is as good as Kerastase, if not better. It's light, but still moisturising, and I now alternate between these two and my Kerastase products. This also has the Lauren-seal of approval, as she loved these too (I gave her the travel-sized bottles of these).

They say:

Moisture Repair Shampoo and Conditioner are for hair that has been weakened or damaged by color, chemical processing or heat styling. They restore hair by bathing it in a highly concentrated formula rich in antioxidant argan oil, reconstructive keratin and fatty acids. Both products restore elasticity, moisture and manageability. The formulas are free of sulfates, phosphates and parabens, so they’re safer for the environment and won’t dry, fade or strip color-treated hair.

These are £15.85 and £16.55 respectively from Feel Unique.

This is the MoroccanOil White Travel Kit, which contains:

MoroccanOil Moisture Repair Shampoo & Conditioner (70ml)

MoroccanOil Treatment for All Hair Types (25ml bottle, and 10ml sample bottle)

Moroccan Oil Intense Hydrating Mask (75ml)

I gave everything in here to Lauren except for the MoroccanOil Intense Hydrating Mask, as it wouldn't fit into my airplane-security liquids bag (I brought them with me when I visited her in Germany :) )

I haven't used this yet, and will probably pass this on to her too, as with my short hair I don't have much use for masks at the minute.

They say:

Hair in need of extra conditioning can benefit from this 5-minute revival treatment. Ideal for thick hair, the high-performance, argan oil- rich formula deeply hydrates and conditions while dramatically improving hair's texture, elasticity, shine and manageability.

The full size of this is £23.85 from Feel Unique.

If you're interested at all in these products, I would say go for the travel kit - it's good value for money, and has the three things which, in my opinion, are the best out of the whole line (shampoo, conditioner, and treatment oil). Everything else in the range is a little superfluous in my opinion, but good shampoo and conditioner can completely change your hair. 

Not to mention that all these products will last for absolutely ages - it's been a month, and I don't think Lauren is even halfway through her MoroccanOil Treatment, and I've barely made a dent in my full-sized one.

It's £33.85 from Feel Unique, but I've also just noticed they have another travel kit for £23.85 at Urban Retreat, which has the hairspray instead of the hair mask! That would definitely be my choice, as I really think the hairspray was fantastic!

Finally, (this has got to be a record-breakingly long post, sorry guys) a few shots of my hair after Errol Douglas was finished with it!

N.B. These were all press releases from an event, but I am in no way affiliated with any of these companies. This post contains my own honest opinions only!

What do you guys reckon? Better than the old haircut? Worth £300?? ;) 

I have a voucher from the salon for a half price cut (although not with Errol unfortunately...or fortunately considering £150 for a haircut would still be well out of my price range >.<) so am kind of considering going back!! 

Sadly, Journalists get paid very very little, are very vulnerable to exploitation (trust me, I know this all too well) and it's definitely not as glamourous as a lot of people think, so it's events like these that kind of make it all worth it ;) 

Emma

xxx