Blue Tit Portobello
A hair appointment with a difference
At this cult London salon, sustainability meets serious talent and your stylist is one to watch.
There are hair appointments, and then there are hair appointments where you leave feeling slightly smug that you’ve discovered something a bit special. Blue Tit, tucked just off Portobello Road, falls firmly into the latter.
From the outside, it looks like exactly what you’d expect from a Notting Hill salon. Cool, understated, a little bit effortless. Inside, though, there’s something else going on. It’s buzzy without being chaotic, friendly without being forced, and refreshingly lacking in that slightly intimidating salon energy that can make you question every life decision while staring at your reflection under harsh lighting.
Blue Tit has been around since 2011, when the first salon opened in Dalston, and has quietly grown into something of a London institution, now with 17 salons across the city and even an outpost in Copenhagen. It’s the kind of brand that people feel oddly loyal to, and it’s not hard to see why. For a start, they’re proudly B Corp, which isn’t something you hear often in the hair world. Sustainability here isn’t a bolt-on, it’s baked in. They use OWay products, an Italian brand focused on organic ingredients and reducing environmental impact, so you get that lovely, clean, botanical feel without sacrificing results. But what really makes Blue Tit interesting is its commitment to training. This isn’t just a salon group, it’s a proper ecosystem for developing talent, with a strong emphasis on education and progression. You get the sense that people are genuinely looked after here, supported to grow rather than rushed through the ranks.
Which brings me to my appointment at the Portobello salon with apprentice Remmy Ava, who was recently named “Apprentice of the Year” by Blue Tit. Now, I’ll admit, booking in with an apprentice might not be everyone’s first instinct, but this is where Blue Tit’s approach really comes into its own. Remmy has been training for two and a half years and is now continuing her development at the Blue Tit Academy in Clapton, so this isn’t someone casually picking up scissors for the first time. I went in for highlights and from the outset there was a real sense of care and attention. The consultation felt thoughtful rather than rushed, and everything was talked through in a way that made you feel completely at ease.
Every step is considered, from the colour through to the final finish, and you never feel rushed or like you’re part of a conveyor belt
What you get overall is a level of attention that’s hard to match. There’s time taken, thought given, and a genuine sense that they want to get it right. Every step is considered, from the colour through to the final finish, and you never feel rushed or like you’re part of a conveyor belt. Add in a very good coffee and you’ve got the kind of experience that feels less like an errand and more like a break in your day.
There’s also something quite lovely about being part of someone’s journey at this stage. You’re not just getting your hair done, you’re supporting emerging talent in a space that clearly values it. The result? Exactly what you want from a good salon visit. Fresh, natural-looking highlights that lift everything without feeling overdone, and hair that feels lighter, brighter and more like you, just slightly improved.
If you’re specifically looking to book with Remmy, appointments are currently handled directly via her Instagram, @3ludoeshair, which feels very in keeping with the slightly under-the-radar, word-of-mouth feel of the place. For other stylists, bookings are made through the Blue Tit website.
And perhaps that’s the thing Blue Tit gets so right. It doesn’t try too hard. It doesn’t oversell. It simply delivers good hair, in a good environment, with people who clearly care about what they’re doing.
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