South Yorkshire Times, March 21st, 1970
“Curleygirl” Comes To Town
Modern Misses in the Mexborough area had better look out for their hairstyles as fashions are going to be completely revolutionised.
With the opening of the “Curleygirl” salon at High Street, Mexborough, today, a new outlook on hair fashions is beginning.
In ultra-modern surroundings they will be able to have their hair styled and cut in all styles, but the salon will be specialising in all the latest Sassoon work.
For Rob Rix, who is opening the salon has a wide experience in the hairdressing field, including the experience of having worked with Vidaal Sassoon in his London salon.
Rob broke into ladies’ hairdressing when he first left Swinton Comprehensive School. He worked for two years in salons in Sheffield and Rotherham. He said “I always made it a point never to stay in one job longer than six months in those days, this was because I wanted to get a wide experience and other points of view.”
He then transferred to men’s when he opened Rob’s at West Street, Mexborough. From this shop he made men in the area sit up and take further notice of their hair. He destroyed the old image of the barber’s shop and made men more “hair aware.” But I have been longing to get back into ladies’ hairdressing for some time.” He went on.
Now he plans to alternate between the two shops in Mexborough, devoting any amount of time to either, on an appointment basis.
The first seeds of his idea to open a ladies salon came early in 1969, when he applied to the towns Urban Council for planning permission. After he was given the go-ahead in October the strenuous work began to completely strip down and convert the old men’s outfitters shop on High Street into what can now only be called a luxurious salon.
It must be completely up-to-date by Northern standards because it has been designed by Robert Briggs R.C.A.D. who trained in design at Ravensbourne College of Design which is now second only to the Royal College of Art.
The atmosphere of all the trendier boutiques in the big cities hits each customer as she walks through the door. Downstairs there is a clothing boutique with really modern clothes – all bought in London. The clothes are cheaper than the customer could find in many other places. For example a lined leather skirt costs only £3.
But this cheapness does not indicate a lack of quality as the standard is high. The reason for the low prices? Rob said the idea is that I want to bring the world of London fashion to Mexborough. I want people to look good with their new hairstyles too. I am selling the clothes on a completely non-profit basis because I want to give this fashion service to my customers who come to the salon. The clothing boutique is dark and music blares out all day long – just the atmosphere for buying dresses to wear for part and dances.
But once upstairs in the hair salon there is a complete change of atmosphere. It is cool and exactly right to get rid of that hot feeling of being under the hair dryer.
Brightness
Only the windows and main walls of the original shop remain in the salon – and bright green clouds suspended from the walls and ceilings cover one of the windows. The spicy green colour is carried throughout the whole of the salon, along with yellow beige, in the ultra-modern wall decorations. Panelling in pine covers parts of the wall, but the ultimate of the decorations is a huge mural of “Curleygirl” herself. The mural shows her head in black and white – a modern girl with true Marsha Hunt hair. The design of the mural forms the trade mark of the salon.
Contrasting with all the light airy designs in the upstairs of the building are the black fittings – the comfortable black seats and the shiny black wash basins.
Now, despite all the setbacks Rob has encountered since he began his decoration work in October – setbacks which include the ceiling caving in and a fire which cost £500 in damage – the salon and boutique, which can only be described as luxurious, are ready for opening today…. with great apologies to neighbours from Rob for all the noise he has made while working.
The shop is opening in time for Easter – a good time, because every customer until Easter will be given an Easter egg!
A final note from Rob about prices in his shop is that the salon will not be cheap, and people will have to pay more for his experienced hand. He said “We won’t be cheap but the best never is.” I hope to work on the basis that once hair is cut properly the customer can do anything with it. In this way with many styles the idea of the weekly shampoo and set is out and a customer will come in for a monthly cut.”
“We will still do the weekly shampoo and set, of course, for people who want it.”