I tried a ‘zen' haircut at an iconic Scots salon – it's huge in Japan & a whole new way of looking after your locks

The Sun

16-06-2025

ONE of Scotland's top salon's has kicked out the quick chop in favour of a slower style experience.
The award-winning Rainbow Room International is known worldwide for quality and being at the cutting edge of innovation.
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And after an inspiring educational trip to Japan earlier this year, the brand's Royal Exchange Square stylists are incorporating some of the meticulous techniques and respectful client rituals they picked up there.
Now the salon is offering up a totally unique hair experience which includes a shiatsu massage.
Clients at Rainbow Room International are already enjoying the benefits of a subtle yet significant change, adopting a slower, more relaxed pace that fosters a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.
This experience is a refreshing departure from the often busy and noisy salon environments commonly found in the UK.
Drawing inspiration from Japanese salons and their unique approach to customer care, stylists are embracing the idea that every appointment is designed to feel like a relaxing retreat, thoughtful, unhurried and centred fully on the client in the present
moment.
As a result, the salon group is now focusing on ensuring that every aspect is intentionally refined and relaxing – nothing should ever feel rushed, it's not just the service itself but also the feeling that it creates.
Suzie McGill, director of Rainbow Room International Uddingston, said: "What we saw in Japan was just the most extraordinary commitment to the overall client experience, it was attentiveness right down to the smallest detail.
"It was peaceful, tranquil, with details such as reclining backwash chairs designed to help the client fully relax, and no part of the process was rushed.
"We want our clients to feel that same sense of care."
AND RELAX
SALONS are usually full of hustle and bustle.
The noise of hairdryers, the snipping of scissors and the chit chat of clients and stylists gabbing fills the air.
But, learning from Japan, the Royal Exchange's new Zen Shiatsu treatment mixes a traditional haircut with a spa day.
I had a chance to get a sneak peek of the experience and it was blissful.
First I was taken up to the tranquil second floor of the salon, usually reserved for beauty treatments and wedding parties.
The peace and quiet was the first thing that set this treatment apart.
After answering a few questions about my hair type, Salon Director David used a hi-tech x-ray device on my locks, from the roots to the ends.
This gave an overview of my hair's health - and a treatment plan for getting it back to full strength.
The products suggested to boost my tresses were then used to form a heavenly shiatsu massage.
Starting at the scalp - which I'm told was very tense - an expert therapist, Lucy, used pressure and movement to ease all my stress away.
The massage moved down my arms, onto my hands leaving me feel lighter than air.
The treatment is finished with a cut and blow-dry, again using the products suggested by the hair analysis.
It was worlds away from a usual rushed cut and colour and made me feel like I'd had a real experience.
While Rainbow Room International was an early adopter of this practice in the UK, introducing it through Glasgow's first day spa in 1983, the team said nothing compares to experiencing the real thing at the source.
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In Japan, the Shiatsu head massage is not hurried or merely an addition to a hair wash, instead it is a key element of the salon experience.
This treatment takes place in a dimly lit room where clients can fully recline, allowing both their bodies and minds to relax.
Suzie explained that when performing a shiatsu head massage, the pressure and rhythm of the fingers should be adjusted to target specific pressure points.
This approach helps to rebalance the scalp, regulate sebum production, and promote healthy shine.
She said: "With this understanding and updated training, we are now incorporating these practices onto the salon floor."
And Laura Leigh, Director of Howard Street Academy, added: "In an industry that often prioritises speed and multitasking, Japan served as a powerful reminder that true excellence requires significant time and effort.
"Training should not simply be about ticking boxes; it should emphasise building a lasting foundation. This experience has inspired us to rethink the ways in which we can nurture young talent."