Renya Xydis City
By Shonagh Walker September 1 2008
She is one of Australia’s most celebrated, respected and aspired to hairdressers and salon owners, but Renya Xydis remains every bit as down to earth and determined as the day when she first swept the cutting room floor.
Never mind that she has three hugely successful, busy salons, a swag of high-end glossy magazine editorial tear sheets, a history of styling at the hottest haute couture fashion shows across the globe (think Collette Dinnigan, Alexander McQueen, Dior) and a team of the best stylists and colourists this country has to offer.
And on top of that, she has a cult following in celeb circles that reads like a Who Magazine 100 Sexiest People list, taming the tresses of Naomi Watts, Nicole Kidman, Mischa Barton, David Wenham and Ian Thorpe.
But it is her latest and most exciting venture, Renya Xydis City that has got all the industry – and the country, talking.
Stroll up the gentle flight of stairs and step through the ornate doors of Renya Xydis City and you’ll feel like Alice, spiralling down the rabbit hole into a whimsical, magical wonderland, where anything can happen and you’re sure to be pampered within an inch of your life.
Xydis, a self-confessed Francophile, can’t get enough of the City of Love, highly evident when you step into her Valonz and Miss Frou Frou salon on Elizabeth Street Paddington and Renya Xydis Concept in nearby William Street, each decked out in a lush Parisian Moulin Rouge theme.
Her inspiration for the city salon?
“I wanted an Indochine feel,” she says. ‘It’s important that people realise it’s not part of a franchise. Each of my salons has its own unique atmosphere.”
From the discreetly lit and private men’s barber room complete with antique barber pole sourced from Chicago, where guys get groomed to perfection, to the white and gold opulent cutting room, the hand-painted peacock silk wall and the circular colour room that evokes images of a genie’s bottle, the salon literally seeps sumptuous style.
Plush velvet banquettes invite clients to laze away while reading the most current fashion magazines from around the globe, surrounded by delicately feminine cherry blossom embossed walls and silk taffeta drapes inspired by Dior couture collections.
And the piece de resistance? The leather basin chairs that recline to a perfectly horizontal angle for the ultimate treatment, the hair facial, where clients are treated to a luxurious hydrating treatment, massage and steam.
Who is the Renya Xydis City customer and how does he or she differ from the clients in your other salons?
The clientele at Renya Xydis City is predominantly business women who are looking for an edgy direction and style. The demographics are different [from our other salons] as the clients are coming in from all over Sydney. The salon is a place that is unique and it gives a sexy feel to hairdressing in the city.
What was your inspiration behind this salon?
Basically, I wanted an opulent French Indochine feel, a luxurious look that was edgy, but also that visually in line with Valonz and Renya Xydis Concept. And, as everyone knows I don’t do sterile! My whole philosophy is that I want all of our clients to feel welcome and to be in a place that gives the best in service and a luxe, welcoming environment.
What is the most prized piece in the salon?
The antique barber pole that I bought in Chicago – I absolutely love it!
RENYA XYDIS CITY
172 Castlereagh St
Sydney NSW
02 9264 8888
city@renyaxydis.com.au
Check out the Renya Xydis City profile page.
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