Gielly Green is a hair and beauty boutique leading a recent change in direction within the salon industry. Beyond the door of an elegant townhouse is a hair and beauty experience unlike any other. Located in London’s stylish Marylebone, Gielly Green has accumulated a legion of loyal fans since its opening in October 2008. Gaining outstanding reviews in well respected beauty and fashion publications including Tatler, Sunday Times Style and London’s Evening Standard their following is growing fast.

Gielly Green is the brainchild of Shai Greenberg, Fred Gielly and co-owner Shahar Geffen. After working within the hair industry for most of their lives, they wanted to improve the salon experience currently offered to their clients at Michaeljohn, where they were working at the time. They made the decision to leave Michaeljohn, causing a lot of the staff who shared their vision to follow, embarking upon their own venture; Gielly Green.

The design of the salon, in their minds, was paramount to its success. The team have spurned the current trend of factory-like salons with regimented banks of backwashes and styling stations, serviced by an army of colourists and stylists in large sterile white spaces. Favouring instead to divide up the space to mark the different activities that happen, rather like the rooms of a house. The colour station is reminiscent of a vast dining-room table, and the cosy pedicure chairs in the downstairs beauty area could be found in London’s coolest living room. The salon features the latest in salon technology, combined with the relaxed feel of a boutique hotel. Indulgent chocolate and cream tones give a warm, intimate atmosphere in which customers can truly unwind. ‘Our vision was to create a salon where our customers could feel as though they were part of a private members club, with all the benefits that brings’ explains founders Shai Greenberg and Fred Gielly.

What is really unique about Gielly Green is first and foremost their unwavering dedication to service. They have turned back the clock to a time where customer’s needs and wants are at the top of their priority list. Upon entering the salon you are greeted by a welcoming receptionist, as you would in the world’s most exclusive hotels. You are seated in the reception, which resembles a library, on a plush sofa in plum velvet whilst you are served a complementary beverage of your choice. ‘From the moment they enter, our clients feel pampered’ explains Fred Gielly and Shai Greenberg. They believe that your treatment should suit your lifestyle, whether it is a hair cut or a facial, there is no standard ‘signature’ procedure here. Skilled, professional staff, most with over 20 years experience, will tailor make your salon experience to suit you. What is the use of a hair cut you cannot maintain, or a facial which does not deal with your skin issues? After your appointment clients are encouraged to sit and relax either at the downstairs coffee bar, or comfortable seating areas around the salon. There is a friendly , family atmosphere in the salon and people feel welcome to take some well deserved ‘me time’.

Gielly Green is also the home of beauty guru Amanda Birch with her first, self-titled salon venture. Amanda is a renowned and highly respected beauty therapist, having been rated at the top of her field by many top beauty journalists. Amanda also came from Michaeljohn, sharing the same ideals of high end customer service, loyalty, discretion and focused treatments. She is best known for her bespoke facial which incorporates holistic massage, aromatherapy and other techniques depending on your requirements. Amanda Birch and her handpicked beauty team have over 20 years of experience each, having practiced in the Mayfair and Marylebone areas. Each team member has a specialist niche; Rhonda is an exceptional hair removal expert, using both hot and strip wax for Brazilian and Bikini treatments. She also performs eyelash perms and tints, eyebrow waxing and tinting, and eyelash extensions. Julie Pedersen is an authority in all types of massage, including deep tissue massage and her exceptional Indian head massage is second to none. The final team member is Zehra Mehmet whose indulgent pedicures grace the feet of London’s socialites, as they lunch and shop around the capital.

Gielly Green is also home to some of London’s elite hair dressing professionals practicing unique treatments, developed over decades of salon experience. Gille Gonsalves is the pioneer of the Brazilian Hair Straightening Technique, and can transform dry, frizzy hair into sleek, manageable locks. He has a legion of fans that come from all over the world for an appointment with him. Laurent Derame is one of very few colourists to practice the innovative Balayage highlighting technique, appointments with him are more precious than gold. The salon also houses experienced colourists Poppy Conaway and Helen Jenkins, as well as stylists Kaz Benson, Selina Harrison and Christina Killian.

The salon attracts clients from both the local area and further afield. Customers from Spain, US, France, Russia and many more international destinations have come into the salon as they stay in one of the many luxurious hotels in the Marylebone area.

The team at Gielly Green certainly took a risk going it alone to develop this unique approach in salon concept, but it is a risk which has paid off. In the current economic climate customers are looking for that something extra, and at Gielly Green that comes in the form of outstanding service.

Please visit Gielly Green at 42-44 George Street, Marylebone, London, W1U 7ES. Tel. 00 44 207 034 3060

Closest Tube stations: Baker Street, Bond Street, Marylebone, Oxford Circus

Closest Hotels: Radisson, Durrants Hotel, The Cumberland, The Landmark Hotel, The Mandeville