One Room, based in Bronte, is a small salon combining hair, beauty and, with the recent introduction of a Lord & Berry makeup counter, makeup services. Daniel McLennan opened the salon in October 2010 with the vision to create a Morocco meets beach style vibe where clients get all the beauty they need in “one room” and feel at home in a family environment.
The salon exudes a greater Moroccan rather than beach vibe: the wallpaper is eye-catching with its bold print, embellished jewels adorn lamps, tables are recycled-style Moroccan drums and the carpet consists of recycled tyres which add character and flamboyance to the room. One Room have numerous return clients who prove the colourful, yet intimate environment is a winning formula.
Model hair and makeup by One Room
Most of One Room’s clients find them through word-of-mouth and recommendations are encouraged through incentives. Daniel has based his salon menu on women looking to experience the whole package and says the transformation is what he enjoys most about his job. In addition to hair and makeup, services clients can have eyebrow shaping and tinting, as well as lash tinting. “Eyebrows are a huge part of an overall look which people forget,” says Daniel. “I do about 60 per cent of my clients’ eyebrows which frame-the-face and make a huge difference. I’d love to add manicures and pedicures to the treatment menu one day so clients can have their nails painted while waiting for their hair colour to develop.
“I like the transformation of something – the whole package – being able to see my work from concept to creation. It helps to love the hair/makeup look you are doing. Every now and then you also most literally change someone’s life by transforming them. One of my client’s had so much confidence from a simple change in hair colour she lost 20 kilos and said it was a catalyst to change her life.” Coming back to Australia, I’ve found makeup and hair go hand-in-hand, especially for TV and editorial work. I do mainly bridal makeup now and enjoy making brides look the best they can for their special day. Having a Lord & Berry makeup counter to hand means we give clients the whole beauty package and it is particularly popular for special occasion makeups."
Model hair and makeup by One Room
There are six staff in total and it is crucial everyone gets along in such a small, busy environment. Senior Creative, Lily Zak joined the One Room room team having worked with Daniel previously at Holt in Surry Hills. Lily's career led her to spend many years working in Hong Kong and she has done hair and makeup for a wide range of mediums including NYFW.
She is responsible for introducing Italian makeup brand Lord & Berry to the salon and, after looking for the right range for a while, says she chose the range for its high quality, natural and luminous products. “I’ve done makeup at salons in the past but had to recommend products we weren’t selling for them to purchase elsewhere. It works really well that clients can purchase the products you’ve recommended and demonstrated on them," she says. "My favourite product is Lord & Berry foundation which gives great, natural-looking coverage that can be mixed to match any skin type."
One Room are the first salon to stock Lord & Berry in Australia and held a launch party back in October to celebrate the acquisition. Lord & Berry is distributed by Cameron Jane Makeup Academy, Sydney.
When it comes to hair, Daniel has purposely chosen to stock Australian-owned and Australian-made hair ranges; Kevin Murphy and De Lorenzo. De Lorenzo has been created with Australian conditions in mind and has UV and colour protectors, while Kevin Murphy contains many essential oils and gives nourishing results. "My business philosophy is to improve the condition of clients’ hair. If it is in good condition it will be easier to manage. Shiny, healthy hair never goes out of fashion," he says.
Daniels core beliefs which he instills in all his staff is professionalism and quality of work: “Meeting client’s needs and ensuring good customer service is what makes a good or a bad salon.”
Find out more about Daniel McLennan and Lily Zak.
Visit www.oneroom.com.au for further information about the salon.