HARI’s | The Design Edit

HARI’s has been tending to the hair of some of the most discerning clients for over 48 years, building a network of five thriving hair salons across London. This month, the salon group’s founder, Hari Salem, give us a tour.

‘A family affair’ is the way that staff and clients describe the business. Its warm and friendly atmosphere and bespoke approach are the key factors that have contributed to its success, along with an extensive programme of in-house training across homegrown and talented stylists and colourists teams.

How would you describe the design of your salon?

Our design is character filled, unique and boutique.

Do you have any curated pieces or special features in the salon?

1) Our Pieces From India

I love to travel, and along with my wife, Catherine, we’ve been fortunate to travel far and wide over the years. When visiting India, I was instantly inspired by the people, the mood, the colours and all the exciting things it has to offer. On one trip to Jaipur Rajasthan, I came across a back alley with a guy selling old Indian furniture, and he offered to take me to his warehouse to show me more. I handpicked many items I loved, and they arrived with me in London sometime later via a shipping container. From this, I furnished three of my West London salons, plus put some pieces in my own houses in London and Sussex. I’m all about the curation of individual pieces, and I’d say my taste is a mix of themes – I’m not just dedicated to one.

2) Our Murano Chandeliers

Venice and its food is another passion that my wife and I have enjoyed over the years. We used to go there a lot, and it was there I discovered all their amazing lighting and the opulence of the Murano chandeliers. Because of this, we actually brought these chandeliers over and made them a feature in all of the salons. What I love doing is mixing different designs and cultures together to make something eclectic. This really is an art form though, as it’s very difficult to mix things up without it looking like a dog’s dinner! So, for example, when we did our South Kensington salon in 2019, we mixed Indian furniture with Murano Chandeliers and Corten steel.

3) Our Clocks

I randomly came across this designer once, Walter – he was a Belgian guy that used to do crazy designs. He started designing the clocks in all the salons, all completely bespoke. The idea is that I really hate salons or restaurants that are all the same or have no character. I am inspired by aesthetics and visuals, and I think it’s important to make the creative environment of the salons inspiring. I’m a detail person and so are many of my talented staff. Whilst the salons’ aesthetic and business continues to evolve, I like to think my personality remains present always and our values remain timeless.

How have you embraced sustainability within your design?

We’ve created a feeling of bringing the outdoors in, flooding the salon with natural light and plants. We’ve sourced many second-hand pieces across the interior, as mentioned above, and we also work with the Green Salon Collective too to reduce waste.

Do you have a dress code for your team?

Whatever they please! HARI’s is a diverse team family, so it’s important that our staff can express their individual style.

Give us three words that reflect the vibe of your salon.

Relaxed, friendly and welcoming

QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS:

1. Salon furniture?

An eclectic mix.

2. Product brand?

A curated edit across Kerastase, Wella, R+Co and more.

3. Software?

Zenoti for operation, WhatsApp for our team community channel.

4. Other services offered?

The latest additions to our treatments are the Nioxin Scalp Recovery treatment and QiQi’s game-changing hair controller system.

5. Number of stations?

20+