Perfect Image hair salon

One of our team, Sandra, visited Perfect Image hair salon at 101 South End, South Croydon. Here’s what she thought:

“As a black woman who has chemically straightened (normally called relaxed) my hair for the past 50 years it was time to stop. In truth, I was forced to stop as my hair is now damaged and breaking. I like wigs but they are not great when it’s windy! So, I decided to have cornrows.

Perhaps you are thinking cornrows – what’s that? It’s a style that dates back thousands of years and originated in the West coast of Africa. Normally they are a style of three stranded braiding, in which the hair is braided very close to the scalp. It looks good on men and women.

I have often walked past Perfect Image at 101 South End where I would see women having their hair beautifully coiffed and men enjoying a much-needed haircut.

On a warm Saturday morning I ventured into Perfect Image, showed Christiana (the owner), a picture of the style I wanted, and it was clearly an easy ask. I waited my turn to be seen (as they operate on a first come first served basis). My cornrows took one and a half hours to do – a result! It used to take at least three hours to relax, cut and colour my hair!

What I found to be different about Perfect Image is the treatment they provide after they cornrowed my hair. Whatever they did – two weeks later my cornrows still look fresh and not a hair is out place. I’m very pleased.

I asked Christiana what she liked most about being based in South Croydon and she commented that it was the vibrant restaurant quarter. However, the steep rise in the number of homeless people in recent cause years was a real cause for concern and Christiana would like to see these people housed and supported.

Perfect Image has been in South Croydon since 2013 and thankfully made it through Covid and is still going strong. The salon is bigger than it seems as it has an area with the usual hairdryers and sinks which can’t be seen from the salon front. They do more than braids,- services include weaves, relaxers. Why not give them a try?”