Award-Winning Hairdresser Opens New Salon in Douglas

In the words of Fleabag; ‘Hair IS everything.’ However, like her sister Claire who comes out of the salon looking ‘like a pencil’, going to the hairdressers is a mixed affair for me. In one sense, it’s a rare occasion in which I can properly relax and read my book, uninterrupted, while drinking tea, with the added bonus of having someone mess with my hair. In another, it’s a time where I look at myself in a vintage Hollywood-style lightbulb surrounded mirror and think ‘my God. I’ve never been uglier.’

I usually go to Salon 3 but my regular hairdresser has branched off and created her own business so, like a blow dry after a wash, I followed. Her new place, Blend, is just down from Java, where Futurama used to be, if you remember those pre-Netflix days of going to the video shop to rent a film for the weekend – and is run by Caitlin Trenholme. A genuinely lovely person, with an excellent fashion sense, and the generous nature of a Disney princess. I never like to stand to close to her as I feel like Shrek in comparison. She’s also, I’m pleased to add, one of Gef’s 30 Under 30 winners this year in the Entrepreneurship category.

Not so long ago, Caitlin was part of the Schwarzkopf Young Artist Team in London – a young talent team Schwarzkopf picks to develop young up-and-coming stylists. She made it onto the team after winning a competition in which she created a vision using her own mood board, did the hair on her own model and presented it to a panel of judges. Once she was on the team, she went to London every month for training and events with industry leaders and stylists that often do celebrities hair (including Victoria Beckham’s Caitlin noted). While there she also participated in events, including doing shows for London Fashion Week, performing at Salon International (the main hair “conference” that takes place each year in the UK) and featured in well-known magazines like Hunger. In conclusion, I wasn’t concerned I’d walk out of Caitlin’s salon with a fringe that made me want to make a paper bag my new facial identity.

Walking into the new Blend, it’s spacious and light with lots of plants and soft background music to match the ambience; charming, cool, and cosy in equal measure. Caitlin sat me down and, to distract myself from my own reflection which reminded me of Aughra from Dark Crystal, I pulled out my laptop and started asking her questions about her new business. (This was pre-planned, I wasn’t just thrusting an investigation on her).

‘What made you want to- yeah just the same colour as normal please- branch away and do your own thing?’

It’s something I was always going to do, it’s been an aspiration since being younger. I’ve done it a bit earlier than planned as I thought you had to be older to have your own business. (Caitlin is mid-20s) But I figured while I love it I might as well do something proper with it.

‘How’s it going so far?’

Amazing, super chill, I love it. I want to create a super chilled out, relaxed vibe for clients. I didn’t want it to be a busy salon where you get passed around, instead I wanted to tap into it being more of a personal experience. With Blend, I’m trying to sell it as a studio rather than a salon. The difference being it’s more personal. I just want a nice space and a nice environment to do good hair, where clients feel super chilled and relaxed, and there’s an emphasis on wellness. I’d like it to be more of an experience rather than just getting your hair done because you have to get it done. I didn’t want the busyness of a salon, I wanted clients to feel more comfortable in an intimate setting. Hair is a treat; it should be a spa-like experience. So people can have a moment to themselves to escape the hecticness of day-to-day life.

‘You have quite a loyal following of people coming to you for their hair, did that support help you make the decision to go solo?’

Yeah, definitely. Over the years I’ve managed to build up a loyal clientele; it takes time but it’s worth it. All my clients are dead nice, it’s like catching up with friends when they come in.

By this point Caitlin had retouched my roots and left me in a blissful state of peace, with tea and book in-hand. 50 minutes passed and it was time to wash the colour off, a part I always enjoy because you get a mini head massage in the process. The latter thought always lures me into a false sense of security. I practically bound up to the sink, sit down, and then remember… the dreaded hairdresser sink. Sink by name and sink by nature. The moment I pop my head back I can feel my shoulders deftly but defiantly make their way up towards my ears, all the while my head tilts further and further back. I try to give some relief to my neck by lifting my head but the thick mass of uncut wet hair weighs the equivalent of a JCB tractor and pulls me back down. Staring at the shimmeringly clean ceiling I resign myself to my fate. I allow my head to sink further and further back, extending itself from the rest of my body, until my neck is a U bend and my skull is at the height of Caitlin’s shins and spend the lovely head massage trying to block out my inner monologue telling me I’m going to paralysed by the time it’s finished. This isn’t just in Blend, it happens every single time I go to any hairdressers; the sinking sinks are universal. Popping a towel around my hair and lifting my gigantic head up from the floor, Caitlin, her lovely calming manner tells me it’s over and leads me back over to my chair. I stand and follow, relieved I am capable of using my legs still. Back in the chair:

Do you – yeah, just a trim of the layers and my fringe, please – yeah, do you have anyone working for you?

Just me for now and I’m just going to see how it grows naturally.

Do you have any grand visions for the future?

Hair’s all about blend but the symbolism behind the name is that, eventually, it could be a blending space for beauty creatives and add-on businesses. I’m not 100% sure on that yet but I’m open to seeing how it can grow, it’s a creative space more than anything here.

How have people responded?

A lot of people have said it’s like a safe space when they come in. Everyone’s loved it and felt super comfortable, which is brilliant. I didn’t feel like there were many young, trendy salons over here so wanted to fill that gap and create somewhere people would want to go. I just want people to feel happy when they’re in here.

Mission accomplished. Leaving Blend with a new do and a new lease of life after surviving the sinking sink, I can confirm I felt happy.