We caught up with Elena Lavagni, the driving force behind Neville Hair and Beauty, dubbed London’s ‘it’ salon.
Elena began her career with nothing but a psychology degree and experience as a sales associate at luxury Knightsbridge department store Harrods, and she has gone on to build a booming and well respected hair and beauty business.
The trajectory of Neville Hair and Beauty has been magnificent, building a very exclusive clientele and picking up experience at some of the world’s leading fashion shows and festivals. In 2021, Neville partnered with the first Amazon Salon, a revolutionary project based on digitalising the hairdressing industry.
My car of choice
My car of choice would have to be a 695 70th anniversario Fiat Abarth. It is a special edition car made for the 70th anniversary. A collector’s car, she is tiny, easy for London but incredibly powerful. The car represents me and my heritage and is a real statement that size means very little.
My favourite holiday destination
I have two favourite destinations. One in my heart, my home in Italy where I lived as a child (Castiglione della Pescaia). It’s where my family still lives and I spend most of my summer holidays – staying close to my family is very important to me. The other place is the Bahamas where Neville and I got married and visit nearly every year. It’s a special place that my children love and has incredible memories for all of my family.
My gadget I can’t live without
My new Apple head phones. I love listening to podcasts and audio books. They are large, cool and comfortable, and easy to run with. The sound is perfect and, even on a busy road, you feel transported by a story or a subject that you are listening to.
My go to fashion brand
I am not faithful to any brands as I love to mix and match. At the moment, I tend to lean towards Bottega Veneta as I find it chic but cool, but for me clothes are an expression of myself. You can easily see the way I feel from the way I dress, what is in my heart is in my clothes.
My airline of choice
Time is a precious commodity and I love any airline that could take me from A to B as safely and reliably as possible. Of course, things are different if I have to make a long haul flight than I am a little more conservative and careful on my choice.
My favourite watch brand
At the moment I love Cartier, aside the beautiful aesthetic I value the heritage and the craftsmanship that the brand has managed to perpetuate since 1904, when the first watch was created. My first watch was given to me by my father on my 18th birthday.
My favourite restaurant
London is a city with an incredible variety of cool restaurants. My personal favourites are Harry’s Bar and Home House, and I also like to discover new indie restaurants, but nothing beats a home cooked meal at home with your friends.
My guilty pleasure
A Saturday blow-dry and manicure at Neville. Home from home but without the work aspect. Nothing makes me feel as serene as in the hands of a stylist for the best blow-dry in London that keeps going for the full working week.
My favourite way to give back
This is when it’s least expected. I always act in the moment and I feel I know when the people around me need an extra pick me up, it could be a lunch for a heart to heart conversation, treating them to a massage or just listening not to answer but to understand.
On a professional level I always try to raise funds for causes that are dear to me. On the 19th March we opened the salon in aid of the earthquake in Syria and Turkey. We worked all day and all proceeds went to the charity, we raised nearly £10,000.
