Finding a good hairdresser is a bit like finding the perfect lover: rare, transformative, and inevitably fleeting. Just when you’ve finally found the one, they ghost you. Off to a new city, a new salon, swallowed by the industry ether. But recently – finally – I struck gold.
Let me introduce you to CULt, the salon that’s quietly (but confidently) making waves from its new home in the The London Fruit and Wool Exchange, right next to historic Spitalfields Market. If you know Spitalfields, you know how fast-paced it can feel – CULt is the exhale you didn’t know you needed.
At the helm is Creative Director and founder Brett MacDonald, who, to put it simply, knows hair. Brett isn’t just another stylist with a sharp eye – he’s a visionary, with decades of experience and a calm, grounded presence that instantly puts you at ease. His passion is woven into every corner of this space, from the scent in the air to the calm minimalism of the interior.
Walk through the doors and time instantly slows. This is not your average high-stress hair hub with blaring pop music and a row of frantic stylists. CULt is spacious but intimate, sleek but soft. It whispers luxury without ever shouting.
You’re not rushed to a chair. Instead, you’re welcomed with iced water and a hot towel (on a hot, humid London day, this felt divine), before easing into a consultation in a dedicated seated area. Your stylist – mine was Brett himself – sits with you, really listens, and the whole exchange feels, dare I say, deeply personal. There’s a lovely stillness to it.
And then: the details. A complimentary hand massage comes with every colour treatment or CULt’s signature hair therapies – yes, really. I opted for a deeply hydrating masque and an optional treatment add-on that soothed away weeks of desk stress. The wash station? Dimly lit, almost meditative. I nearly nodded off during the scalp massage.
Of course, the drinks menu is very CULt. Think: bubbles, rosé, iced teas, artisan coffee. Feeling peckish? They’ll order you lunch from The Salad Project, and it arrives like a little act of magic mid-appointment.
But the real highlight? The cut.
I sat down with a mess of thick curls, mildly terrified. Brett, who casually mentioned his love of gardening and topiary (yes, topiary – how perfect?), treated my hair like a living sculpture. I’ve never seen someone approach my hair with such measured precision, and yet such ease. The result? Honestly – truly – the best haircut I’ve ever had. And I’m not one to throw that line around.
Leaving CULt, I felt like I’d been away for a weekend retreat. Calm, refreshed, lighter (physically and mentally), and – let’s not forget – immaculately groomed.
So yes, after a long and messy love affair with mediocre salons, I’ve finally found the one. CULt is the forever kind of salon.
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