Spa spy The mane chance

Get a new look for the New Year with a cut from Robbie Bruce at Roku, Edinburgh

The treatment

A haircut, £48, with Robbie Bruce at his new salon Roku, Edinburgh.

Why go?

It’s not until I’ve made an appointment and have checked out Robbie’s Instagram (@thescottishcolourist) that I realise colour, rather than cutting, is his forte. Oh well, I’ve heard he’s a whizz with the scissors too. He’s recently taken over this neighbourhood hairdresser, formerly Urban Angel, and has named it after the Japanese word for six – his lucky number, and this salon’s street number. You’ll find it just up the road from Summerhall. It’s a dog-friendly business and, if you’re lucky, Lily the Frenchie may be in attendance.

Our spy says

I’m mortified to show a colour expert my hair, since I’ve been patching over my roots using a box kit for months.

I don’t get a row though, as Robbie seems more concerned with giving my lank and thick head rug a good wash and getting rid of the clumpy ends. I had a keratin treatment a few months ago, and have to use sulphate-free shampoo, which can leave hair feeling rather heavy.

That’s my excuse anyway, and Robbie lathers me up at the back wash, using his own brand of shampoo, suitable for those who’ve undergone my kind of straightening process.

He then applies a conditioning treatment and does a fantastic head massage.

Once I’m back in front of a mirror (the lighting in this corner building is flattering, so I’m not as horrified as in other salons by my drowned rat appearance), he cuts a few inches off my ends, while I have a mug of tea and a few biscuits.

I’m spritzed with some of ecofriendly brand davines’ OI All in One Milk and blow dried.

Next, he works into my wig again, cutting away the old layers, which have made my hair blocky at chin level.

I tell him I prefer a relaxed and undone look, rather than anything too glam, and, after straightening, he adds a few waves and a bit of mattifying putty.

The results

My head feels lighter and my hair feels fresh, with lots of swing and movement. My visit was early days for this salon, as Robbie has a lot of intriguing plans for 2020, including giving the space a makeover, introducing quiet appointments (if a client doesn’t want to talk) and using more eco-friendly products. I’ll be back, once I’ve binned the home kits and am ready for a professional dye job. n