Last night, Handpicked Media bloggers got together for a very stylish evening with cult Berlin hair expert Shan Rahimkhan at The Soho Hotel.
Shan Rahimkhan’s eponymous hair collection has just launched at Harvey Nichols, so we were given a rare opportunity to meet with Shan Rahimkhan and his right-hand man, stylist Fabio F.D’Acri, for personal hair consultations, a prescribed product regime and hair styling.
Based in Berlin’s central Gendarmenmarkt district, Shan Rahimkhan Casa is a chic lifestyle concept store that includes a hair salon, a boutique stocking designer products sourced from all over Europe and a cafe that turns into a sleek cocktail bar at night.
Shan told us that he created the hair collection to bring volume and moisture to fine hair. With many volumising product, you often have to sacrifice nourishment and hydration for extra body.
Shan Rahimkhan products are completely natural and free from all the paraben and sulphate nasties that leave residue on the hair. The collection includes active natural ingredients such as Bamboo, Aloe Vera juice, Tamanou Oil, Quinoa and Argan Oil.
Shan Rahimkhan styles the hair of A-listers such as Jennifer Aniston and Charlize Theron when they’re in Berlin, so of course I jumped at the chance to have a bespoke up-do by the master.
I did have a professional blow dry at Taylor Made salon the night before, so I wasn’t too embarrassed about my locks, but after a harsh winter, they’re not in the best condition.
I sat in the styling chair and after a quick surveying of my hair, Shan immediately knew how to style my hair. After just five minutes of back-combing, pinning and a finishing spritz, I had softly tousled red carpet hair.
My hair was full of volume and the few loose strands of hair perfectly framed my face. Of course, A-list hair needs an occasion, so Katie Chutzpah and I headed out into Soho for drinks at The QV Bar at Quo Vadis.
The products I was given to try out were True Colour Shampoo, True Colour Shiny Gold Treatment and Supreme Volumizing Double Phase Leave-In Treatment.
The shampoo lathered well and I only had to use a tiny amount to get my hair super clean. My hair was ready for some indulgence, so I used the Shiny Gold treatment, which brings out natural gold tones, and found it to be light and moisturising.
I was sceptical about replacing my usual conditioner for a leave-in conditioner spray, but it instantly softened my hair and made it manageable. Best of all, it reduces my time in the shower and smells incredible.
I’m already sold on the Shan Rahimkhan collection, but I’ll road test the products properly and post an update soon.
Now I just wish that Shan Rahimkhan would open a sister salon in London, as I’m already tempted by a weekend trip to Berlin!
Shan Rahimkhan products are now available at Harvey Nichols. For more information on Shan Rahimkhan Casa, visit: www.shanrahimkhan.de