Making the leap to the big city, I found it a monthly struggle to find a hair salon that was welcoming, not too pricy and provided a good service. After months of research, and a couple of failed attempts with hair looking worse for wear, it was time to find ‘the’ hair salon. Parking on Rheede Street, and walking to the Labia Theatre, I saw a decorated sign board that read Europa Hair Studio with a number underneath.
After a quick phone call I had an appointment made for the next day, and made my way to Europa. You’ll find this hidden behind the famous Sawadee restaurant in the Rheede Mall. Greeted by Doreen, their hair salon assistant, I was offered a glass of water or pot of tea. Seated in the salon chair, Johann, an extremely knowledgeable and friendly hairdresser, quickly came to the rescue to tackle my hair. I sat down and felt I just had to know more about this humble hair salon.
Europa has quite a story behind it, with the original owner moving from Europe in the 80s to open a store on Mill Street. After a successful run, present owner and hairdresser Ashley Horwood then took over the business in the 90s and helped grow its client base. In 2007 they moved to Rheede Mall, to its current quaint and cosy spot in the middle of the centre. The salon boasts old school appeal, with older clients coming in to get their weekly perm and chat with friends. They have a range of clients knocking on their door, from students to moms, from Sea Point and Camps Bay to the Northern Suburbs; it seems everyone wants a little piece of their Europa flair.
Their friendly team of four staff members enjoy working in the Oranje-Kloof area and pride themselves on offering affordable prices paired with a relaxing atmosphere, where you can enjoy reading the latest issue of Hello magazine while getting your hair done.
Whether it’s a husband looking for a clean cut, a little girl getting her hair cut for her first day of school, or highlights to look glowing for summer, Europa caters for every taste and style.
Contact number : 021 422 5058
