Amazon's London hair salon Insider/Kate Duffy
For $72 I went to Amazon's east London hair salon.
Before making a decision, I used the augmented reality app to determine which color and style I liked.
Amazon-branded products such as Echos or Fire Kindles are available in the salon.
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To see the real deal, I visited Amazon's first London hair salon. It was only Amazon employees who could visit it when it opened in April. It was opened to the public in May.
Insider/Kate Duffy
The salon's augmented-reality application is a highlight. It allowed me to experiment with different hairstyles through a screen before I finally chose the look that I liked.
Insider/Kate Duffy
First, my hair was almost pink. It looked so real around my roots, I was amazed.
Insider/Kate Duffy
Then, I tried platinum blonde. This looked more natural around my eyes.
Insider/Kate Duffy
You could also choose an ombr look. Reflection made it less obvious and difficult to see on the screen.
Insider/Kate Duffy
I finally tried purple, but decided to keep my natural color. Too nervous to see how the dye would actually look in comparison with the AR app.
Insider/Kate Duffy
The salon is located in east London, which has seen a rise in gentrification and is now a popular area for hipsters. According to the hairdressers, it is well-located because locals are more inclined to try out unusual hairstyles.
Insider/Kate Duffy
My hairdresser brought me to the sink and washed my hair. Even the salon had its own towels.
Insider/Kate Duffy
The hairdresser explained to me my hair type and suggested products. I sat down in a chair.
Insider/Kate Duffy
Behind me were a variety of products including shampoos, hair straighteners and other styling products that customers can purchase from Amazon.
Insider/Kate Duffy
Customers can scan the QR code on a product by scanning it with their smartphone. They will be taken to Amazon, where they can order the product or have it delivered to them.
Insider/Kate Duffy
Online ordering allows customers to be free from the bottle and leave the salon. Amazon Prime customers enjoy faster delivery times.
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Insider/Kate Duffy
To get information on the screen, I pointed at hair products on a shelf. To get it to work, I had to ensure my finger was over the black sensor on the shelf.
Insider/Kate Duffy
Halfway through my appointment I was satisfied with the way my hair looked.
Insider/Kate Duffy
Amazon Salon had four upstairs seats and seven downstairs seats.
Insider/Kate Duffy
The majority of tables came with an Amazon Fire Kindle, and the salon had Amazon Echo speakers scattered around. These were used to play music.
Insider/Kate Duffy
ELSL Hairdressing employs Amazon Salon hairdressers. Elena Lavagni, who also owns Neville Hair & Beauty Salon London, runs ELSL Hairdressing. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to Insider that a few of the stylists at Amazon Salon are also qualified to teach haircutting.
Insider/Kate Duffy
Here's my result from my $72 Amazon Salon cut!
Insider/Kate Duffy
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