The multi award-winning Richard Ward Salon and Metrospa has occupied its prime spot in a stunning Grade II listed building in the heart of Chelsea’s chichi Duke of York Square for nearly 20 years. The salon is effortlessly cool but utterly unpretentious. It is a longstanding favourite of celebrities and members of the Royal Family, including HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, HRH The Countess of Wessex, Ivanka Trump, and Sir Michael Caine amongst many others.
I visited one crisp, bright Thursday morning at the end of November, and was greeted warmly on arrival by my charming colourist, Pete. We had met the week beforehand, when I had popped into the salon for a colour consultation and an allergy alert patch test. After depositing my coat in the cloakroom with the friendly attendant, Pete whisked me up the ‘stairway to heaven’ to the salon floor, which felt like entering into a sanctuary of pampering and delight.Indeed, there are over 250 innovative hair and beauty treatments and services on offer to clients, all designed to deliver couture hair and bespoke beauty. The salon also boasts the renowned Metrospa, a unique city day spa offering a a state-of-the-art pampering zone featuring expert therapists, and exclusive Decleor, SkinCeuticals, Intraceuticals and Shellac and Footlogix treatments. As Pete says, it would be easy to spend an entire day here, getting preened and pampered in this cosy cocoon, and that is what many of Richard Ward’s clients choose to do.
Pete ushered me into the Colour Zone, which features five gorgeous sash windows (to ensure the colouring area is flooded with the natural light needed for creating couture hair). I sat down at one of the 18 Philipe Starck-designed workstations, and Pete asked if I want anything to eat or drink (the salon has a fabulous chef, Alex and barista, Nick), but I’d just had lunch, so I decline, though the options did look tempting. We had already discussed my colour objective, and talked about how this would be achieved in great detail the preceding week, so Pete was able to go and mix up the colour straight away, leaving me with a wide array of magazines to browse: bliss!
It can be quite nerve-wracking trying a new salon and colourist, but after my thorough discussion with Pete the week prior to my appointment, I felt completely confident in his abilities and technical expertise. Pete joined Richard Ward earlier this year, having previously worked in the industry for six years in Newcastle. He had wanted to be a hairdresser since he was a child, he intimated, and it is evident that he possesses immense flair and natural talent. After mixing up my desired colours, Pete meticulously painted every strand of hair as close to the root as possible (to prolong the colour and minimise regrowth), and packed the foils tightly and neatly). Pete is a great conversationalist, and time flew by as we chatted.
After my colour had developed, I was led to a sink in the Cleanse Zone, where I was shampooed in one of the 12 state-of-the-art lie-down backwashes with built-in massaging functions. The chair massage, in conjunction with the heavenly head massage from Pete was an utterly luxurious and relaxing experience. Pete applied L’Oreal DIA Light toning gloss and Kerastase Dusio Dose Lactic Acid to boost brilliance.
I was subsequently shown through to the Hair Zone where I had the immense pleasure of having a cut and style with Richard Ward himself.As well as being the Director and Co-Founder of the salon (along with his wife, Hellen), Richard is one of the leading lights of the haircare industry, and has experience working with international magazines, brands, celebrities and catwalk models. In spite of his renown, Richard is warm, charismatic, and great company. He also had strong views about what I ought to do with my hair, and, quite frankly, I am putty in his hands (who am I to argue with the man whose name is above the door, and whose nickname is ‘Golden Scissors’?) To say that I was delighted with the resultant cut and bouncy blow-dry would be an understatement. I was totally thrilled.
At the end, Richard hugged me goodbye, and Pete came over to admire my cut and to show me out: exemplary customer service from start to finish. My experience at Richard Ward was truly outstanding, and my only regret is that I didn’t have more time to explore the many other beauty treatments on offer, but that is a great excuse to return, which I certainly plan to do!
Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa
82 Duke of York Square
London, SW3 4LY
