In its quest to rule the world, Amazon has been putting its hands into everything. So, why not hair care? The world’s largest online retailer, helmed by outgoing billionaire CEO Jeff Bezos, will soon open a London hair salon featuring all kinds of gadgets to enhance the hairstyling experience.
Introducing Amazon Salon (well, what did you think it would be called?). If you happen to live in the London area and you want to get your hair done Amazon-style, you can stop by the two-story, 1,500 square foot salon and avail yourself of a wide range of new tech-based products and services.
The salon will open in a few weeks.
According to New York Daily News, customers of Amazon Salon will be able to enjoy entertainment on built-in Fire tablets at their styling station. They’ll also be able to try virtual hair color with augmented reality technology. Augmented reality (otherwise known as AR) is a way to overlay digital content onto real world objects. So, if you want to see how you would look with purple hair, you can do that at Amazon Salon.
Amazon will also be testing new point-and-learn technology in the space. Let’s say a customer sees a product on a shelf that they are curious about. All they will have to do is point at the item and all the product details, including brand videos and educational content, will appear on a display screen. Ordering products will be as simple as scanning a QR code.
The hair care and styling services will be provided by Elena Lavagni, owner of the well-respected Neville Hair & Beauty Salon, which has been based in London for 20 years. Lavagni, who has been profiled by both Vanity Fair and Glamour Magazine, has provided hair services for events like the Cannes Film Festival and Paris Fashion Week.
“I am delighted to be part of this project — the salon combines classic hairdressing services with technology to deliver a completely unique experience for clients,” Lavagni said. “Our creative team of stylists, whose flair for hair is as intrinsic as their love for technology, will put the client at the heart of everything they do. I feel proud to use our 40 years’ experience in the industry to help bring this salon to life.”
Amazon is also assuring customers that the salon will be CVOID safe. Amazon Salon will provide free sanitizer and face masks, and customers will be required to wear their masks. The salon will perform temperature checks and limit the capacity of the building. The styling stations will be separated by screens, and the salon’s equipment will be sanitized after it is used.
When it first opens, Amazon Salon will only serve Amazon employees. Then, in the coming weeks, the salon will make appointments for the general public. At this time, there are no plans to open additional salons.