House Of Colour By Kate Kelly ★9.9

A colour specialist with a school attached

Kate Kelly’s salon sits in the Georgian courtyard quarter off Castle Street, in the commercial heart of the city, and it is built around one discipline: hair colour. What sets it apart from a general hairdresser is the academy running alongside it — the same team that colours clients also trains stylists, which tends to keep technique current rather than settled.

Services

Colour and extensions carry the salon, with beauty services filling out the visit.

• balayage, full and half-head foils, root tints and toners;
• hair extensions, fitted and maintained;
• cutting, blow-drying and finishing;
• makeup artistry for events and bridal;
• nails and waxing.

Technology and brands

The work is technique-led rather than machine-led: freehand balayage and foil placement, root smudging to soften regrowth lines, and toning to hold a shade between visits. Bond-protection additives run through lightening services so repeat colouring does not cost condition. Extensions are matched at consultation, and colour bowls, brushes and foils are set fresh for every head.

Team and stylists

Kate Kelly leads the salon and gives it her name, and reviewers repeatedly credit the atmosphere to her way of running the floor rather than to any one policy. Around her sits a small bench of colourists and stylists — regulars name Yasmin and Jaime among them — and because the academy trains here, junior staff are developed in-house instead of arriving fully formed from elsewhere.

The Space

Clients describe the salon as clean and unusually spacious for a city-centre address, with styling chairs given room rather than packed in. The courtyard setting means daylight from tall windows, useful when a colourist is judging tone. The register is relaxed and talkative — a working colour salon, not a silent spa.

Who it’s for

It suits anyone making a real change — going lighter, correcting a colour that went wrong elsewhere, or adding length with extensions — and wanting a colourist rather than a generalist. Office workers in the business district can reach it on foot, and the makeup and bridal side makes it a single stop before a wedding or an event.

Questions and answers

Can I book online? Yes, the salon uses an online booking system, and colour appointments are best reserved ahead.

How long should I allow? A cut and blow-dry is about an hour; balayage or a full head of foils can take much of the day.

Do you treat men and children? Yes — men’s cutting and colour are taken, and children are cut with a parent present.

Can I combine treatments in one visit? Yes, colour with nails or makeup is a common pairing.

Do you sell gift vouchers? Yes, covering salon services and academy training.

Opening hours