KH Hair Leicester celebrates 50 years in the city
A month of celebrations and gearing up for a greener future
The team at KH Hair Leicester is holding a month of celebrations as the salon reaches a 50-year milestone in the city.
The award-winning salon, situated on Bowling Green Street, is one of the most successful salons in KH Hair Group’s 21-strong portfolio. It opened in 1972 under its original name, Keith Hall Hairdressing, and moved to its existing location, a few doors down in the old Waterstones building, in 2015. The move marked a significant new chapter for the salon, which now includes state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, a dedicated beauty room providing a tranquil escape from the city, and a beautiful reception area with relaxing armchairs for consultations and waiting.
Salon director, Amanda Fall, who has been with KH Hair for 33 years, says, while she is proud of the salon’s heritage and 50-year success, she is very much looking ahead and is excited to be gearing up for a ‘greener future’.
As part of a strategy to become more sustainable, the salon group has partnered with Green Salon Collective (GSC) in a bid to increase recycling of waste and reduce pollution in the environment. “GSC provides us with a service to recycle traditionally impossible to recycle items such as hair, foil, chemicals, and colour tubes,” explains Amanda. “They provide us with separation kits for hair, metal, and chemicals, preventing them being sent to landfill and allowing almost every single piece of waste to be turned into something new.”
According to a study at Southampton University, 99% of salon foil ends up in landfill, but by partnering with Green Salon Collective, 100% of the salon’s foil is recycled. “We even recycle hair which is used to make boom and mat projects that could help to soak up oil spills in oceans across the world or be used for gardening and composting, adds Amanda.”
The salon has also recently introduced an award-winning, sustainable, cruelty-free, vegan range of hair care products – weDo/. The products are Vegan Society and Cruelty-Free International certified. “Created with minimal formulas, the products are not only 100% recyclable, but are made with 75-94% post-consumer recycled plastic,” says Amanda. “By introducing the range to our clients, we can help them discover great hair care without negatively impacting the planet.”
Long-standing client, Elizabeth Kimberley has been a client for over 40 years. She says that when she first started having her hair done at KH Hair, she was in her twenties with two small children. “I loved the way the salon combined contemporary, fashionable styling with traditional standards of service,” she says. “Over the years, the salon has never failed me. With a growing family, developing career and busy social life, KH Hair and its stylists have been central in my life.”
“Forty years after I first crossed the threshold, I know that the staff will always welcome me, listen to me and send me home with a smile and a flattering, up to the minute style that never fails to get me compliments. Thank you so much KH Hair. And bravo: I’ve no doubt this is the best salon in Leicester.”
KH Hair is synonymous with the provision of exceptional and forward-thinking training and Amanda says the salon will continue to invest in new talent. “Our aim is to take raw talent from across Leicestershire and train and develop young people for a successful career in hairdressing,” she says. “We offer trainees the chance to be part of a successful, established brand, opening up opportunities throughout the UK and beyond to nurture their talent and continue to develop their skills throughout their careers. We invest significantly every year in on-going training and support so the whole team is continually learning and improving their skills.”
KH Hair Leicester was one of the first salons opened by founder Mr. Keith Hall who went on to grow a portfolio which today comprises 21 salons including a barber’s shop. The Franchise is run by managing director, Darren Messias from KH Hair’s Head Office in Long Eaton, which is also home to the company’s acclaimed Training Academy. “All of us at KH Hair are incredibly proud that our Leicester salon is celebrating 50 years in business,” he says. “We have seen many changes since we opened in the centre of Leicester in 1972 and the last 50 years have been both challenging and extremely rewarding. The fact that the salon is still going strong makes this landmark all the more special.
“Of course, none of this could have been achieved if it had not been for the talented and hardworking salon teams from the very beginning right up to present day. Also our wonderful, loyal clients, some of whom have been with us from the salon’s opening day. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our clients and teams, past and present, for their loyalty over the past 50 years. Here’s to 50 more!”
KH Hair Leicester will be thanking its clients throughout the month of May with complimentary express treatments and special offers on a range of hair care products and ghd stylers. “I want to say a huge thank you to my fantastic team and to our wonderful clients, many who have become great friends over the years,” adds Amanda. “We couldn’t have done it without you!”