Tip Top Hair Design Ashby

It had been almost a year since Ollie first noticed that they weren’t always alone at the Ferrers Centre. Jacqui had nearly forgotten about it. Ollie hadn’t.

It was late afternoon at Tip Top Hair Design. The last client had gone, the kettle had clicked off and the old courtyard was beginning to settle into that strange quiet it gets when everyone heads home. Jacqui was tidying up while Ollie relaxed nearby. But this year Ollie had an apprentice, Nell, and Nell didn’t do quiet.

At eight months old, Nell believed every noise needed investigating and absolutely everything was her business. She was pottering around the salon when suddenly she stopped. Her ears pricked and she stared into the mirror, not at herself, but at something behind her. Jacqui looked too. Nothing. Just the familiar reflection of Tip Top at the end of another day.

Then came the sound. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tiny footsteps, like little paws crossing the salon floor. Nell spun around. Nothing was there, but Ollie slowly got to her feet and stared towards the door. “Don’t start,” Jacqui muttered.

She looked out towards the courtyard. It was empty, the last of the evening light stretching across the block paving. Then she saw him. Just for a second, a little dog trotting across the courtyard. Dark coat, familiar shape and a little tail held exactly as she remembered it. Jacqui’s heart skipped. “Sidney?”

He disappeared around the corner and Nell raced towards the door. Outside, she sniffed furiously while Ollie walked slowly to where the little dog had vanished. Then Ollie stopped and her tail began to wag. Not excitedly, just softly, like she was saying hello to an old friend. “Oh, Sid.”

Suddenly Nell bounced backwards, then forwards, then sideways, playing with absolutely nothing. Jacqui laughed. “Well, I suppose you two never got properly introduced.”

For the next few minutes Nell raced around the courtyard, occasionally stopping as though waiting for someone to catch up. Once, just once, Jacqui could have sworn she heard another set of paws running beside her.

Eventually Nell flopped down and the courtyard became quiet again. Jacqui finished up, turned off the salon lights and locked Tip Top for the night. As they crossed the courtyard, Nell suddenly stopped and looked behind them.

There, beneath the old archway, stood the faint outline of a little dog. Only for a moment. Then he was gone.

Nell wagged her tail. Ollie simply carried on walking and Jacqui smiled. Because perhaps some dogs never really leave us. Perhaps they just pop back occasionally to say hello, check everything is as it should be and make sure the new apprentice is doing the job properly.

Sunday morning musings from Tip Top…

There’s something about a Sunday morning that makes you stop and reflect a little.

Last weekend we celebrated 22 years of Tip Top Hair Design and, if anything, it reminded me that a salon is about so much more than hair.

It’s the chats over coffee, the laughter, the life updates, the quiet appointments when someone just needs a little peace, and the familiar faces who have walked through our door for years.

Tucked away in our little corner of the Ferrers Centre, we’ve somehow created more than just a place to have your hair done. It’s a little community of its own.

After 22 years, fashions have changed, hairstyles have definitely changed, but the heart of Tip Top hasn’t.

Good hair, honest advice, plenty of conversation and hopefully a place where you can switch off for a while.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way. ❤️

Happy Sunday,
Jacqui x

Fresh colour, fresh start… and off to uni! 🎓

Maisie’s client wanted to give her hair a proper refresh before heading off to university, taking her grown-out blonde back to a much brighter, cooler blonde.

Just LOOK at that before and after. 😍

The old warmer tones are gone, the blonde is fresh and bright again, and she’s officially uni-ready.

Nothing like starting a new chapter with really good hair. ✨

🙏 A PRAYER TO THE MOT GODS

Oh mighty Gods of the MOT,

I come before you today, humble of heart and terrified of advisories.

May the tyres be sufficiently treaded.
May the brakes brake.
May the emissions emit only what is deemed acceptable.
May no mysterious warning light suddenly illuminate on the dashboard.

Please overlook that noise that I’m fairly sure it’s always made.

May the mechanic utter the sacred words:

“Yep, it passed.”

Rather than the cursed phrase:

“Do you want to come and have a look at this?”

I promise to check my oil more often.

I promise to stop ignoring strange noises.

I promise absolutely anything you require.

Just please…

LET THE BLOODY CAR PASS ITS MOT.

Amen. 🙏😂

⭐️ THIS is what makes us proud.

Last weekend we celebrated 22 years of Tip Top Hair Design, so reading reviews like these feels rather special.

Not just the five stars, although we’ll happily take those! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It’s reading things like:

“Wouldn’t go anywhere else.”
“I always look forward to my appointment.”
“Such a relaxing setting.”
“I’ve been coming to Tip Top for around 19 years.”

That last one says an awful lot.

At Tip Top, we’ve always wanted to be more than somewhere you simply come to get your hair done. Great hair matters, of course, but so does feeling comfortable, listened to, relaxed and genuinely welcome.

Some clients have been sitting in our chairs for as long as we’ve been open, and that’s probably the best review we could ever receive.

Thank you for trusting us with your hair, your stories and an hour or two of your lives.

22 years of Tip Top Hair Design.
More than just a haircut. ✂️

Most important question!!!

Red or white?

Yes, I’m mentioning Christmas already…
Before anyone tells me it’s far too early, the appointment book says otherwise! ✂️
Christmas appointments are already starting to fill up, and the Friday before Christmas is almost fully booked.

So, if you know you’ll want your hair freshly cut, coloured or coiffed ready for the festivities, now’s a very good time to get your appointment in the diary.

Nobody needs the December drama of realising you’ve got three parties, Christmas Day looming… and roots for days. 😂

🎅 Book your Christmas appointment early to avoid disappointment.

Drop us a message or give Tip Top Hair Design a call to get booked in.
Then you can smugly tick that one off the Christmas list. ✔️🎄

Sometimes the calmest moments at Tip Top aren’t even in the chair. 🤎🐿️

This little visitor spent ages watching us through the salon window today, before apparently deciding we were all far too relaxing and having a little snooze, draped between two branches.

Perfect timing, as two of our clients were sitting back while their colours developed, chatting about just how peaceful and relaxing the salon feels.

Good hair, good conversation, a beautiful view… and even the local wildlife knows Tip Top is a good place to unwind. ❤️

More than just a hair appointment

🚗 Visiting Tip Top this weekend? Please allow a little extra time for parking.

The Artisan Show is taking place at Staunton Harold Estate this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so the estate is likely to be much busier than usual.

If you have an appointment with us, please give yourself a bit of extra time to arrive, find a parking space and make your way over to the salon.

We’d hate for your relaxing hair appointment to start with a frantic lap of the car park! 😅

See you soon,
Tip Top Hair Design