Making-up fans in Dublin will already have heard a buzz about Queen, a new beauty emporium on Aungier Street. I finally got 3 consecutive minutes and took myself in on Saturday for a cut with the fabulous Zara Cox, a stylist who's in hot demand for beauty and fashion editorials - as I sat waiting for my appointment, I admired a gorgeous shoot she did with Sophie Dahl in the weekend mag of the Indo. Given her schedule, it's not usual to find her on the floor at Queen, so I felt honoured indeed.
First impressions? A bright, welcoming space at the front ushers you in, and friendly staff greet you. All manner of delights are enticingly displayed - haircare by Sebastian and Tigi, makeup by cult fave Kevyn Aucoin, pretty sparkles by Girlactik, skincare by MD Formulations and Dermalogica, candles and bathboxes by Nadur, nailcare by Jessica - it's all been carefully chosen, it's all top notch, and it's all fab. Downstairs are treatment rooms, and behind the retail area lies the salon.
Advertised
In I went, and was taken into a private hair-washing room, complete with massage chairs - bliss. Hair was washed and given a couple of Sebastian treatments, including a protein one to combat my mad under-frizz. Now came the main event, the cut. Oh this was good. Zara chatted to me and asked what I wanted, had a good gander at my hair and told me what she thought would work, considering the fact my hair has a natural kink, and what would suit my personal style. I wanted to be able to wear it down without too much messing, and be able to wear it up to get it off my face when I'm at work.
As she cut, she told me all manner of fascinating stuff about my hair, about how it grows, and the effects stress can have - I was so engrossed I hardly noticed what she was doing - which was giving me a really brilliant haircut, by the way. The final result is so nice - I have loads of movement, really choppy layers and a long fringe, but with enough length to still tie it back easily. And of course, she finished with a dab of gloop from the Pink Penis (above, right) - a beaut.ie fave product.
Finally, my hair looks good when down - a miracle, for me anyway. Rating? Oh, ten out of ten, ladies.
