Umberto Giannini Manchester Review & Give Away!

When I was  invited to have my hair done at Umberto Giannini in Manchester, I jumped at the chance. Like most girls, one of my favourite things in life is getting my hair done. I absolutely adore my current hairdressers (XS, Leeds), I’ve been going there for as long as I can remember, but, it’s so nice to mix things up a little bit sometimes, after all, pampering is a favourite hobby of mine. I am so excited to talk to you about my experience at Umberto Giannini; the salon oozes sophistication and professionalism and I truly did feel like a pampered princess when I left. I already can't wait to go back. Excitingly, for one of my amazing readers, I’m giving away a special treat so that you can experience the Umberto magic for yourself. Keep reading to find out more and importantly, to see my new hair...

I visited the store earlier this week to have my colour consultation and patch test to make sure I wasn’t allergic to anything, this immediately made me realise how professional this salon is - they take no risks, you really are in safe hands. I like colour consultations, but hairdressers probably hate me, I show them hundreds of photographs of perfect hair colours from Pinterest in the hopes that one day, someone will magically re-create that look for me. I expected the consultation to take a few minutes, but actually, I was probably there for at least half an hour and Ben, the salon manager, gave me a lot of hair advice and spoke to me about how I can achieve the look that I want. I quickly realised that I was in very good hands and started feeling extremely excited about changing my hair colour.

Two days later I walked back into the salon ready to freshen up my hair. As most of you will know, I used to be bleach blonde, had a really bad time with hair extensions which meant that I needed to tone my hair down, stop dying it and just leave it alone really (read my hair growth tips post here). But after leaving it for nearly 3 months, I decided that I'd practically given my hair an ombre look, it was looking wispy on the ends and pretty drab, my roots were just disgusting quite honestly. 

I sat in my chair, magazines in one hand, green tea in the other... 

 

and decided that I should probably take some before and after photographs...

So these are the 'before' photographs, you can see that my hair is still really quite bad at the back from where the bonded extensions have snapped off my natural hair - quite bad, who am I trying to kid? It's awful: NEVER get bonded hair extensions! You can also see just how much I've let my natural colour grow out as my roots are pretty disgusting at the back too.

I got to work reading my magazines whilst Ben got to work protecting my hair. He explained that he would try to make it as bright and blonde as possible (I missed the brightness) but in a natural looking way, but his main priority was to make sure he was looking after my hair whilst doing it. He used all Umberto Giannini products and I asked him if he honestly liked/rated them, he explained that at first, he was apprehensive, would they be as good as higher end products? But then he assured me, yes, they are amazing and now he even has them in his bathroom at home. He even said that they're 100% honestly his favourite hair care products now, he had me sold immediately. 

I love the new Mend My Hair range and instantly fell in love with it.  He used this range throughout the day on my hair. Ben washed my hair before we even started with the colour, this is so that he could put some protein back into my hair and make it strong before he started adding colour to it - again, insanely professional and impeccable service. There is no sloppiness or laziness about the Umberto Giannini salon, they go above and beyond to make sure that you leave with the best hair you've ever had.

The salon itself is beautiful and minimal, tucked away in a quiet corner of Harvey Nichols (Cathedral Street, Manchester), you don't realise that you're in a large store though because the salon is within the store, rather than just being a little open concession. 

I must bring my Mum to check out the amazing private champagne lounge they've got inside the salon. 

I should have had some prosecco really... 

A cup of green tea later, and after my first wash, it was time to put the foils in...

Soon it was the moment of truth, time for my colour to be washed off...

Once washed, Ben did something called the cream egg to my hair... (using more of the Mend My Hair) range...

He grabbed some mousse for volume, 

added some oil for smoothness and strengthening 

and then blow dryed my hair massively after applying this all over it.

Well it's safe to say that my hair went massive. I absolutely love the final result. I always thought my hair was too short to curl, when I had extensions I curled it every day and loved having thick curly hair, but Ben curled it and used the mousse and I couldn't be happier with how big and full it looks, even if it is shorter. Obviously, I love the colour too! No gingerness, not too blonde, but it's still extremely light in a natural way. I'm one happy bunny. I chose to get quite a bit cut off, I'm still really trying to grow it but I need to even it out at the back. I'm extremely happy with the cut and will certainly be visiting Ben again, it was only at the end he told me that he's one of the experts in cutting at the salon - I can tell. 

We even went for a little up-do. I just wish I had somewhere to go that evening so I could show it off!

I was kindly given some of my own products to take away with me but somehow, managed to leave the bag of them on the train, I really hope that lost property find them and give me them soon otherwise I will cry!

(Jacket: Dorothy Perkins here | Playsuit: Forever21, similar here, here and here. | Bag: Zara similar here)

And there we have it, I left the salon feeling on top of the world and I'm already itching for the moment when I can go back. Look how fresh and happy my hair looks! I have always being quite a 'hair snob', I like to use good products and go to good salons. We use amazing products on our faces and for me, I think hair is just as important. If you like sleek, professional salons with hairdressers who make you feel a million dollars, Umberto Giannini is for you. I am so so in love with my new colour and cut! Thank you so much to the team at Umberto Giannini!

Now for a little giveaway, because I am so impressed with them, I am giving one lucky reader the chance to win a free cut and blow dry at one of the UG salons! They have salons in Manchester, Birmingham, Worcester, Stourbridge, Kidderminster and Hagley. If the winner is from elsewhere, you can either travel to one of the above locations (travel expenses to be paid by yourself I'm afraid) or, I have an alternative and equally amazing Umberto Giannini prize for you. Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A massive good luck everyone! Please let me know in the comments if you've entered, if you like my hair!, if you like Umberto Giannini, anything - let's talk hair

You can find out more about Umberto Giannini salons here!

Lots of love, Em x

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