Salon celebrates 30 years of precision styling

Whenever guests have visited Brian of London over the past 30 years, they have been assured of getting a quality hairstyle with a precision cut from a well-trained stylist. That concept—precision, service and quality—is what owner Steven Goudie says sets his salon apart from the others.

"We have taken the European approach of apprenticeship," Goudie said. "Rather than taking someone right out of school or someone who just got their license, we put them through a training program. That creates a standard, a level of technical ability to our customer service."

The stylists are trained in the salon's distinctive technique, which focuses on precision, style and customer service.

That European approach to hairstyling began with Goudie's parents, Brian and Wilma Goudie.

They began working in their late teens at House of Fraser in Edingburg, Scotland, a high-end department store where the Goudies worked in the salon. Several years later, Steven said, Brian and Wilma flew from England to Houston to visit a friend.

"That's when my parents decided to emigrate," Goudie said. "The Woodlands was a young community, and it certainly looked like it had a great future."

They opened Brian of London on Dec. 7, 1983. The original location of the salon is the site Brooklyn Bagel Caf occupies in the Panther Creek Village Center. In 1992, Goudie said, Brian of London relocated to its current location in the back of the shopping center to take advantage of a larger available space. Brian and Wilma have since sold the salon to their son.

"We're modeled after the Vidal Sassoon style of haircutting," Goudie said. "[Sassoon] had an immediate impact on how women wear their hair. He cut hair to work with the way it would grow naturally, the texture. That's how we model our technique."

As a Vidal Sassoon partner salon, stylists at Brian of London follow some of the most distinctive and creative trends in haircutting.

When meeting with a client, stylists at Brian of London analyze the shape of their face, the texture of their hair, even a customer's lifestyle to determine what the best is for them.

"We consult with clients and come up with a look that will work for them," Goudie said. "So it's all done individually. Same with hair color as well."

Precision in styling

As a Vidal Sassoon–sponsored salon, Brian of London specializes in precision haircutting and styling. The salon offers a full range of services for men and women.

Salon services

• Highlights - $44–$150
• Color - $66–$115
• Perm - $80
• Updo - $65+
• Makeup - $45
• Women's cuts and styles - $25–$60
• Men's cuts - $30, $40
• Childs cut - $25–$35
• Brazilian blowout - $275+
• Waxes - $15–$50

4775 W. Panther Creek Drive, The Woodlands, 281-363-3981, www.brianoflondon.com

• Mon.–Wed: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Thur.: 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
• Fri.: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Sat.: 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.