Stylish move

HAIR-DRYERS, tongs and hairspray at the ready – the big blow dry is back – and where better to get the look than the swish new Hooker & Young salon in Darlington.

Housed in a chic boutique townhouse on Grange Road, the salon definitely has the “wow” factor, offering sharp cuts, colour and the latest treatments as well as hints on how to recreate the look at home.

Salon owner Lesley Charles says there will be a strong emphasis on consultations and clients are encouraged to bring in photos of styles they may have seen in magazines.

“It’s all about making the customer look and feel fabulous and being able to recreate the look at home,” says Lesley. “We encourage customers to try something different that will suit them. We’ll also look at their face shape, the texture of their hair and discuss their lifestyle to ensure it fits in. We encourage people to bring in pictures as it gives us a better idea.”

Lesley anticipates the “big blow dry” being really popular for the party season in the run-up to Christmas.

As well as using the right styling products, the trick is to create lots of volume at the crown by back-combing and adding texture to make it look less polished.

According to Hooker & Young, the big trend for Autumn is Grunge Deluxe (backcombing, “beach waves” and dramatic eye-make up) as seen on Hollywood A-listers Kate Bosworth, Mischa Barton and Lara Stone.

Fashionistas should also note the “fish plait” is making a comeback, replacing the “top-knot” (the key, apparently, is not to look too pristine and polished).

At the Darlington salon, colour technicians are on hand to offer advice on colour as well as the latest two-tone look, scorching and dip-dye techniques.

Another reason to visit is the luxury range of treatments – perfect for giving hair a boost, while the ground floor has a wide range of Kerastase and Shu Uemura styling products to buy. Lesley recommends Essence Absolute by Shu Uemura, which she says is particularly good for dry and coloured hair, as well as split ends and protection against heat.

The salon is the sixth Hooker & Young to open in the North East, following two in Newcastle, as well as Wynyard, Seaham Hall and Psyche department store in Middlesbrough.

Since they started in 1985, Hooker & Young have built a team of more than 40 dedicated stylists and gained a wide reputation for their showstopping presentations. Creative directors Gary Hooker and Michael Young have scooped a string of awards, including North Eastern Hairdresser of the Year at the British Hairdressing Awards nine times, as well as British Colour Technician of the Year.

They have also been nominated for British Hairdresser of the Year 2010 for a third consecutive year and have been short-listed for the Most Wanted Hair Icon award.

Gary says it’s fantastic to open a new salon in Darlington with Lesley at the helm. “We’ve looked at bringing the Hooker & Young experience to Darlington for a while but couldn’t find the right site and weren’t willing to compromise,” he says.

“When we saw the Grange Road venue, we knew it was perfect.

“We strive to offer the highest level of hairdressing and customer care in luxurious and welcoming salons, and look forward to welcoming people into Grange Road. The Hooker & Young experience is about looking and feeling beautiful, at an affordable price, and we truly hope to become a key member of the Darlington community.”

■ Hooker & Young, Grange Road, Darlington. Tel: 01325-468994.

For further info, visit hookerandyoung.co.uk

Free cut and blow dry

HOOKER & Young is offering a complimentary cut and blow dry worth £47 to the first 200 readers to produce this page of The Northern Echo (no photocopies) when they go in to book. Offer applies on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays only.

Appointments must be made and taken before October 29.

Only one appointment per person. After the first 200, anyone else who enters the competition will get a £10 gift voucher off a cut and blow dry.