IBIZA COMES TO NEWCASTLE IN THE LASTEST HAIR AND BEAUTY COLLABORATION TO HIT THE CITY.
It’s no secret that Geordie girls like to put in the prep for a big night out, and 18 months ago when Glam Squad Express arrived on the scene, that got a little bit easier. With a range of hair and makeup services on offer and a fully stocked prosecco chiller, getting glam had never been more fun.
Fast forward to 2017 and it’s all change for the established Jesmond blowdry bar and makeup studio. With a brand new management team in the form of Toni Watson, and her talented team of Toni Watson Salon stylists, Toni has expanded her portfolio to include Glam Squad Express and with this merger comes a Winter takeover by BLOWOUT Ibiza to bring a little bit of The White Isle to the North East.
The island that never sleeps is the regular home of BLOWOUT Ibiza, where their dedicated team of stylists bouff, primp and preen party goers from dusk til dawn. So when it came to putting together an event to bring a little bit of Ibiza to Newcastle, there was no better partner for Glam Squad Express. BLOWOUT haven’t just lent their name to the Jesmond salon, they’ve given it a bit of a revamp and a new menu of styles too. Gone is the dark grey and gold and in it’s place, white timber decorated with faux orchids and chamelias giving off just enough of a Summer vibe to make you forget it’s February.
So, what exactly is Glam Squad Express? It’s a pre-party salon environment, there’s no cutting or colouring here, all of that is done at the sister salon in Wallsend. Glam Squad Express is all about party prep; creating fabulous braids and bouncy blowdrys with a bespoke makeup look to top it off. The salon itself is small but cosy, one side is set up for hair and through an archway is the makeup area complete with studio lighting and logo adorned backdrop ready for that perfect selfie before you leave.
I arrive with last night’s hair, which is a head of loose, messy waves and I decide I want something completely different. I’m seated at a section and brought a large black coffee and a ginormous croissant – breakfast of glam champions (glampions?).
It’s loud and chaotic but I get the impression that that’s deliberate, after all it’s a place where people bring their pre-party; I’m told that means kicking back and having a few drinks in a fun environment, right on the doorstep of Newcastle’s best bars and clubs whilst the team take the hard work out of your party prep. On each of the two sections is a menu of BLOWOUT Ibiza styles and they’re all simple but showstopping looks, from The Beach Bun to The Sunset Senorita, each is a carefully curated look to guarantee maximum impact with minimum effort.
I opt for a faux ‘fro – not one of the styles on the menu – this one is a bespoke look and is styled from dry. Apprentice Aidan begins by sectioning my hair off into very small sections before hairspraying, then using a chopstick styler he creates tight corkscrew curls. After each section is curled it’s sprayed again for maximum staying power and once the whole head is curled, it’s finger combed through roughly with oil by Toni to dress it out, literally doubling it in size.
The effect is amazing, to say I’m pleased is an understatement. I wanted to try something different and as the absolute opposite of my regular style, that’s exactly what I got. From relaxed waves to a Yonce-esque ‘fro in 90 minutes and I’m leaving with a swagger I never knew I had.
If you’re considering this style, yes, it looks amazing, it’s a definite showstopper, but be prepared for hair breakage – purely because the hair is sprayed stiff and then finger combed through. It’s also worth noting that he salon has a strict “no kids” rule, and before you jump on that as a negative consider the facts – Glam Squad Express is a pre-party blowdry bar, they serve alcohol and play loud music, sometimes with curse words in it. Would you take your kids to a bar that does the same? No. If you were there with your girlfriends getting ready for a night out would you want to see kids there? No.
Toni tells me that there’s scope to offer a mobile service too, where the Glam Squad travel to your home, office or hotel to get you and your friends ready to party. The details aren’t quite ironed out yet she tells me but if you ask me, there’s definitely mileage in that idea.
Pixie xo
To get the full BLOWOUT Ibiza experience at Glam Squad Express, call 0191 2818502 but hurry, it’s a time limited takeover and you don’t want to miss out. Heading to Ibiza to Summer, then you can grab a piece of the action by emailing book@blowoutibiza.com
