I put the phone down, stunned, my mouth dry. She wasn’t there. She. Was. Not. There. Not for a month – a month. I slumped to the floor as I felt the blood drain from my head. I had to call someone, tell someone. In scenarios such as this, there is only one person to turn to: “Mum – my hairdresser has gone on holiday.”

It’s not that I’m precious about my hair. Life is too short. But I do like it a certain way, and though women tend not to divulge how much a trip to the hairdresser costs (and I will not break this code now), let’s just say, when we choose to entrust our hair to someone, we are sacrificing a flight to somewhere hot, a new television and/or the beginnings of a deposit on a house. Not something to do lightly.

So it was after a calming cup of tea and a reassuring biscuit that I summoned the courage to book an appointment at Taylor Taylor London - a salon that, though it has always intrigued and appealed above most others, I would still never have ventured to without extreme need.

I arrived, palpitating. Normally, when I step in the door of my salon, I’m straight onto a conveyor belt of blonde, coiffed heads, smartly dressed stylists and uniformed assistants, Chanel handbags and Tods loafers. This was not the case here. Very far from it. Taylor Taylor London excitingly breaks from the expected mould that sees salons centre their concept around uniformity and predictability, in regards to everything from décor, dress code and set-up, to clients, procedure and results.

The flagship salon (the one I visited) is a product of its location. Located by Spitalfields, the salon merges the eclectic edginess and trend-setting style of the East End with the high expectations, high standards and time efficiency required by its local City clients. The result is a unique, chic, quirky but cool, bang-on trend salon that offers (forgive me) a breadth of fresh hair.

The salon itself merges charming vintage and quirky, bohemian features with the elegance of a Louis XV style to create a relaxing but notably urban destination. Everything is thoroughly unique and pivots around - what must surely become a must-have for all salons - a complimentary cocktail bar.

So what of the experience? I have to confess, it was up there as one of the most enjoyable - not in an overly luxurious pampered way, but in a home from home, have a drink, chill out, relax and no one is looking, kind of way.

As for the services, it is hard to find a salon (one that pitches itself amongst the best) that doesn’t claim a celebrity client list and award winning stylists who frequent fashion shoots around the world, pioneering styles as they go, and Taylor Taylor is no different. But it definitely does what it says on the tin.

I was having colour, cut and blow dry, together with a manicure. Terrified they were going to try and morph me into some East London visionary of cool from the future, with stripes, spikes or swathes of scarlet, I was pleasantly surprised to see they did exactly as I requested, expertly. They may have creativity in their fingers, but the skill is in their bones, like an abstract artist proving he can life draw with photographic precision.

So as I finished the last of my complimentary bellinis (the number shall remain a secret) and penny sweets (having already enjoyed tea and biscuits) I admired my expertly completed nails that were fully dried, hardened and gleaming, and my hair that was bouncing, bright and looking healthier than ever and thought to myself: bellinis and blow dries – does it get any better than this?

THE ESSENTIALS

A favourite of Calvin Harris, La Roux, Little Boots, Ladyhawke and Sir Ian Mckellan, Taylor Taylor London is the place to head to for hair with flair. The two salons (located on Spitalifields and Brick Lane) offer an array of cutting edge hair treatments and highly skilled stylists (and beauty services, too), in quirky, comfortable surroundings with added extras – an outside cutting area for summer and a complimentary cocktail bar - to ensure your experience is one to truly enjoy.