We meet the Bristol hairdresser who has been at the cutting edge for 34 years

When it comes to Bristol hairdressing salons, McQueens on Park Street has been a cut above most for more than three decades.

Thousands of people have had their hair cut, coloured or extended at McQueens since it first opened in 1989 and owner Emma Choremi is clearly proud of its success and longevity.

Like Woodes cafe next door (open since 1966) and Uncle Sam’s (1984) up the road, McQueens is very much a Park Street survivor.

Emma was just 18 when she opened the salon with business partner Steve McQueen 34 years ago. It was originally above the All In One restaurant, where it operated for 26 years.

But then eight years ago, Emma spotted that another hairdressers next to Woodes had gone on the market so she grabbed the opportunity to have a ground-floor salon in a prime location.

The site has been a salon for around 50 years and was originally a branch of the legendary 1970s Bristol hairdressing chain Shaggers.

For Emma, who trained in Bristol at Brunel College and in various local salons, the current site for McQueens couldn’t be ‘more Bristol’.

“Park Street’s always busy and my son, who works in a clothes shop a few doors up, says Saturdays are getting even busier now. Lots of students come here because of the vintage clothes places and we get a lot of tourists here because of the Banksy next to the salon, it’s a great spot.”

Like many businesses, things have been harder for small local businesses since COVID and the cost of living crisis and Emma admits she did consider selling up.

“I did actually put the salon on the market just after the pandemic. The running of a business can be quite tough and I fancied doing my own thing, maybe go freelance, but we sat down and realised it was actually working really well.

“I’m going to stay until the lease runs out - actually, I know a lot of salons that are handing things over at the end of their leases.

“Something smaller would be good because the rents are high but I have a really good team here and we’re always busy.”

Until the pandemic, Emma had eight staff at McQueens but it’s now down to three, something she says is part of a wider problem in the hairdressing industry.

“Hairdressers were like the holy grail after lockdowns because everybody wanted their hair cut by a hairdresser rather than doing it themselves but it also changed the way people thought about it.

“A lot of stylists were working from home under the radar and a lot of people decided to stick with it - they thought they could have their hair done at home for slightly less money.

“The stylists also started to think why should they work for minimum wage plus commission when they can set themselves up at home or visit clients.

“After lockdown, people were desperate to have a haircut even if it was in the garden or the back of a van so it changed people’s thinking - they suddenly thought they didn’t need to sit in a fancy salon.”

Emma also says the pandemic had an impact on the numbers of young people coming through colleges.

“When we came out of the pandemic there weren’t many new experienced stylists from the colleges - it’s not the same teaching people hairdressing over Zoom, you need to be hands-on.

“But I was lucky because I have a young guy, Bartek, who I trained and he’s now a full-time stylist and booked every day - it’s impossible to get an appointment with him until January now!

“We’ve also got Beth, who has been with me for five years and known as a colouring queen! Her colours and flawless blends are becoming her trademark. She started here offering to work for free and loved the salon so much she’s been here five years and her diary is packed. Along with Evie our assistant, it’s a great team and one happy bunch of people!”

The only ‘gold’ salon in Bristol for ‘great lengths’ hair extensions, McQueens still attracts regular customers from as far as London and Cheltenham, many of the clients have been using Emma since the day she opened.

“A lot of the clients come in and it’s more of a catch up now - the hair is a bonus and I love that. I still look forward to seeing my clients each time they book.”

And over 34 years, she has also seen different generations of the same families in the hairdressing chair.

“One guy comes in and the first time I met him he was a baby in a car seat. His dad used to come here for his haircut and his son’s now in his late 20s and about six foot eight!

“A lot of people say they wouldn’t trust anybody else to do their hair because I’ve known them all their lives and I really love that.”

So, what are Emma’s hot tips for fashionable styles in the coming months?

“For women there’s a lot of sharp cuts at the moment. The long beachy thing is done. Actually, I’ve just had all my hair cut off - I was wearing extensions for over 20 years and I just got to the stage where I thought it’s time to have it chopped off. It’s so easy - it’s great!

“People are being more daring and guys are having more colour in their hair. It’s not all skin fades. A couple of guys have asked for perms - having a fade and perming the top.

“I’ve seen all the styles come back over the past 34 years but, yes, I can still roll an ’80s perm quite easily!”

McQueens, 16 Park Street, Bristol. mcqueenshairbristol.co.uk