Review is written by Staff @ The Ring and is based on • Interviews with this vendor • Our experiences
When we met Suke Mestanovski, owner of Side Street Salon, he and his staff were in the midst of doing bridal hair makeovers on fashion models before the girls hit the runway of a local bridal fashion show. Several Up-Do's, a few hundred bobby pins, and some super hot straightening iron's later, we were sold. Why? To begin with, the styles were stunning. But more than that, we saw that regardless of how time-critical and stressful fashion show styling can be, the Side Street staff were having fun with every part of it, joking around as they twisted and looped locks into their place. You could tell that they were 'in their element'. If you're not sold yet, you will be. Let us explain...
The start…
Side Street Salon is celebrating their sixteenth year in business. Suke brings with him over twenty years of experience in the hairstyling industry. For Suke, hair is a family affair. Eight of his family members are involved in the business in four different countries. It's not unusual for Suke to go on vacation and then spend time working in one of the family salons in Chicago or Australia...
This 'compulsion' to make the world a more beautiful place has helped to make Side Street one of the busiest hair Salons in London. Clients book six to twelve months ahead to make sure they can get into a stylist's chair on the morning of their wedding day. (Last minute bookings are often still available.) Is it worth it? Absolutely.
Side Street Salon offers a team of seven beauty specialists devoted to making every man and woman look and feel gorgeous on their wedding day, and every day. The specialists handle the hair and beauty for over eighty-five weddings each year, with the number growing larger as their popularity grows. Each staff member has been handpicked and trained by Suke to meet the high standards that London has come to expect from Side Street Salon.
No such thing as a bad hair day
"There's no such thing as a bad hair day at Side Street Salon. We don't allow it," says Suke, as we sat in his Richmond Row salon. He told us that he insists that each stylist on his team be as much of a perfectionist as he is, when it comes to your style. The Ring has a feeling that you won't be leaving this salon until both you and your stylist are thrilled with the way you look.
Suke believes that every client is a walking canvas and that he and his staff are the artists. It's their job to make sure that they help create a beautiful picture. If you are unhappy with the style created for you for any reason, Suke insists that you should feel comfortable discussing it with your stylist. They will take as much time as they need to in order to send you home completely satisfied.
The art of the 'Up-Do'
While not every bride goes for the Up-Do, there is no question that it is still one of the most popular wedding day styles a girl could have. Up-Do's work really well with just about any veil, headpiece, or tiara that you can find in a gown shop.
Side Street Salon prides itself on being the 'bridal Up-Do specialists'. One look through their brag book can tell you that. The brag book in question is also a great way to look at your options, see how they look on real people (real London brides, to be exact), and then choose the style you love most.
Staff encourages you to research and find photos of what you like, and then bring them into the salon. Together you and your stylist will be able to find the best style to suit you and your wedding gown during your trial. Just to be sure that you get the hair style you wanted, the staff will take digital photos to keep on file to remind them of what you decided on.
Free hair consultations speak volumes to brides
Yes, you heard right. We said free hair consultations.
You should start thinking about how your hair will look when you start thinking about what kind of dress you plan to wear. What style of dress you choose and the type of veil you select all depend on how you plan to wear your hair. It's probably a good idea to go visit the salon to discuss possible ideas before you purchase your gown and headpiece. That's why Side Street Salon offers a free hair consultation to every bride. Make-up consultations are also available, at a charge of $40.
Megan told us that she knew she made the right choice with Side Street Salon after the first time she had her hair done there and that her experience was "Fabulous, fantastic and fun!" She also really liked the variety of services offered, "The aesthetics at Side Street are simply amazing and I love seeing myself in the mirror when my style is done."
The consultation includes an analysis of colour, cut and style. Also included is a trial pinup to experiment with different ideas. If necessary, you can even come back for another free consultation if you want to try out different ideas. In fact, hair consultations are free for the entire bridal party as well. Plus, to make sure you hair looks even more beautiful on your wedding day, Side Street Salon will do a scalp health assessment during your consultation, because if it's dry and/or flaky that effects how it looks on your big day. So, they can do a shift treatment (basically a facial for your scalp) to exfoliate, moisturize, etc., depending on what your hair needs.
Makeover options…
Side Street Salon offers full hair services. They also have a showcase of their favourite hair care products for you to peek at. Side Street's flat rate pricing is always a hit with brides. They charge $60 for an Up-Do with veil & headpiece, and $50 for each member of the wedding party. Make-up artists are also available in the salon for bridal parties. Taxes are included in this price but gratuities are extra. "Their prices were very reasonable and competitive with other salons," says Shannon. Megan also says that, "As a bride, I would definitely say that I got a great value, and I know that my bridal party would say the same thing."
If you already have highlights or would like to have highlights or colour put in before your wedding, the colour experts at Side Street Salon suggest that you have it done two weeks before your wedding. This will allow for time in case any adjustments are required. Colour services range in price depending on your choices and your hair, so you should go in for a consultation for more details on colour pricing.
If you've always wanted a long, luscious look for your wedding day hair, but can't seem to grow it, Side Street offers hair extensions, which are very popular for brides and bridesmaids. Another beauty ‘extension' you can get at Side Street is false eyelashes, which Suke says are "all the rage! They accentuate your lovely eyes, making them the focus of your features." Side Street offers different types, styles, thickness and colours (black and brown) at $15 per pair, including application.
Prepping and primping
Side Street Salon also offers full aesthetic services before or on your wedding day for all of your beauty needs. They can prepare your skin ahead of time to make sure that you have that wedding day glow – it's like getting a trial for your hair and make-up, only you start with a facial and then the professionals at Side Street come up with a plan to beautify your skin.
They also offer manicures and pedicures for him and her, which Suke says are becoming very popular. "Even the most manly-man wants to look great for his wedding photos, especially the ring photo."
Salon and spa services are a great gift for the bridal shower or from a grateful bride to her attendants. Gift certificates can even be ordered and purchased over the phone and mailed to the receiver.
Side Street Salon offers...
Full chemical hair services
Make-up services for your complete bridal look
Full aesthetic services
Comprehensive line of professional hair care & skin care products
Details, details, details
• To ensure that you have your choice of times, be sure to book your appointment at the salon as soon as possible - 6 to 12 months in advance is ideal, though 8 weeks before is sometimes possible.
• There are no deposits required when you book your wedding day with Side Street Salon, just be sure to let them know if there are any changes as soon as possible.
• Flat rate pricing is available for the bridal party - $60 for the bride and $50 for each member of the bridal party.
• You can pre-pay for services (both hair and spa services) the day before your wedding.
• Side Street highly recommends that brides have a make-up consultation done before the big day. They say that it allows both the bride and the make-up artist to work out all details of the look before the pressure (and tight timeline!) of the wedding day.
When we met Suke Mestanovski, owner of Side Street Salon, he and his staff were in the midst of doing bridal hair makeovers on fashion models before the girls hit the runway of a local bridal fashion show. Several Up-Do's, a few hundred bobby pins, and some super hot straightening iron's later, we were sold. Why? To begin with, the styles were stunning. But more than that, we saw that regardless of how time-critical and stressful fashion show styling can be, the Side Street staff were having fun with every part of it, joking around as they twisted and looped locks into their place. You could tell that they were 'in their element'. If you're not sold yet, you will be. Let us explain...
The start…
Side Street Salon is celebrating their sixteenth year in business. Suke brings with him over twenty years of experience in the hairstyling industry. For Suke, hair is a family affair. Eight of his family members are involved in the business in four different countries. It's not unusual for Suke to go on vacation and then spend time working in one of the family salons in Chicago or Australia...
This 'compulsion' to make the world a more beautiful place has helped to make Side Street one of the busiest hair Salons in London. Clients book six to twelve months ahead to make sure they can get into a stylist's chair on the morning of their wedding day. (Last minute bookings are often still available.) Is it worth it? Absolutely.
Side Street Salon offers a team of seven beauty specialists devoted to making every man and woman look and feel gorgeous on their wedding day, and every day. The specialists handle the hair and beauty for over eighty-five weddings each year, with the number growing larger as their popularity grows. Each staff member has been handpicked and trained by Suke to meet the high standards that London has come to expect from Side Street Salon.
No such thing as a bad hair day
"There's no such thing as a bad hair day at Side Street Salon. We don't allow it," says Suke, as we sat in his Richmond Row salon. He told us that he insists that each stylist on his team be as much of a perfectionist as he is, when it comes to your style. The Ring has a feeling that you won't be leaving this salon until both you and your stylist are thrilled with the way you look.
Suke believes that every client is a walking canvas and that he and his staff are the artists. It's their job to make sure that they help create a beautiful picture. If you are unhappy with the style created for you for any reason, Suke insists that you should feel comfortable discussing it with your stylist. They will take as much time as they need to in order to send you home completely satisfied.
The art of the 'Up-Do'
While not every bride goes for the Up-Do, there is no question that it is still one of the most popular wedding day styles a girl could have. Up-Do's work really well with just about any veil, headpiece, or tiara that you can find in a gown shop.
Side Street Salon prides itself on being the 'bridal Up-Do specialists'. One look through their brag book can tell you that. The brag book in question is also a great way to look at your options, see how they look on real people (real London brides, to be exact), and then choose the style you love most.
Staff encourages you to research and find photos of what you like, and then bring them into the salon. Together you and your stylist will be able to find the best style to suit you and your wedding gown during your trial. Just to be sure that you get the hair style you wanted, the staff will take digital photos to keep on file to remind them of what you decided on.
Free hair consultations speak volumes to brides
Yes, you heard right. We said free hair consultations.
You should start thinking about how your hair will look when you start thinking about what kind of dress you plan to wear. What style of dress you choose and the type of veil you select all depend on how you plan to wear your hair. It's probably a good idea to go visit the salon to discuss possible ideas before you purchase your gown and headpiece. That's why Side Street Salon offers a free hair consultation to every bride. Make-up consultations are also available, at a charge of $40.
Megan told us that she knew she made the right choice with Side Street Salon after the first time she had her hair done there and that her experience was "Fabulous, fantastic and fun!" She also really liked the variety of services offered, "The aesthetics at Side Street are simply amazing and I love seeing myself in the mirror when my style is done."
The consultation includes an analysis of colour, cut and style. Also included is a trial pinup to experiment with different ideas. If necessary, you can even come back for another free consultation if you want to try out different ideas. In fact, hair consultations are free for the entire bridal party as well. Plus, to make sure you hair looks even more beautiful on your wedding day, Side Street Salon will do a scalp health assessment during your consultation, because if it's dry and/or flaky that effects how it looks on your big day. So, they can do a shift treatment (basically a facial for your scalp) to exfoliate, moisturize, etc., depending on what your hair needs.
Makeover options…
Side Street Salon offers full hair services. They also have a showcase of their favourite hair care products for you to peek at. Side Street's flat rate pricing is always a hit with brides. They charge $60 for an Up-Do with veil & headpiece, and $50 for each member of the wedding party. Make-up artists are also available in the salon for bridal parties. Taxes are included in this price but gratuities are extra. "Their prices were very reasonable and competitive with other salons," says Shannon. Megan also says that, "As a bride, I would definitely say that I got a great value, and I know that my bridal party would say the same thing."
If you already have highlights or would like to have highlights or colour put in before your wedding, the colour experts at Side Street Salon suggest that you have it done two weeks before your wedding. This will allow for time in case any adjustments are required. Colour services range in price depending on your choices and your hair, so you should go in for a consultation for more details on colour pricing.
If you've always wanted a long, luscious look for your wedding day hair, but can't seem to grow it, Side Street offers hair extensions, which are very popular for brides and bridesmaids. Another beauty ‘extension' you can get at Side Street is false eyelashes, which Suke says are "all the rage! They accentuate your lovely eyes, making them the focus of your features." Side Street offers different types, styles, thickness and colours (black and brown) at $15 per pair, including application.
Prepping and primping
Side Street Salon also offers full aesthetic services before or on your wedding day for all of your beauty needs. They can prepare your skin ahead of time to make sure that you have that wedding day glow – it's like getting a trial for your hair and make-up, only you start with a facial and then the professionals at Side Street come up with a plan to beautify your skin.
They also offer manicures and pedicures for him and her, which Suke says are becoming very popular. "Even the most manly-man wants to look great for his wedding photos, especially the ring photo."
Salon and spa services are a great gift for the bridal shower or from a grateful bride to her attendants. Gift certificates can even be ordered and purchased over the phone and mailed to the receiver.
Side Street Salon offers...
Full chemical hair services
Make-up services for your complete bridal look
Full aesthetic services
Comprehensive line of professional hair care & skin care products
Details, details, details
• To ensure that you have your choice of times, be sure to book your appointment at the salon as soon as possible - 6 to 12 months in advance is ideal, though 8 weeks before is sometimes possible.
• There are no deposits required when you book your wedding day with Side Street Salon, just be sure to let them know if there are any changes as soon as possible.
• Flat rate pricing is available for the bridal party - $60 for the bride and $50 for each member of the bridal party.
• You can pre-pay for services (both hair and spa services) the day before your wedding.
• Side Street highly recommends that brides have a make-up consultation done before the big day. They say that it allows both the bride and the make-up artist to work out all details of the look before the pressure (and tight timeline!) of the wedding day.
