A designer hair salon in the heart of Manchester is turning its focus on the burgeoning female Muslim market.

Peter Marcus in Selfridges has introduced a private room for clients who prefer privacy during their hair services.

Samantha Shamim, Director of Peter Marcus, said, “The new feature is perfect for women who wear the hijab.

"The backwash area is screened off and the styling room is closed off which is perfect for women who would prefer private consultations. We have a team of experienced female stylists who are very knowledgeable.

“Peter Marcus is very discreet; it’s not your usual glass fronted salon, which means that you can come in with friends or family with the peace of mind that you are not exposed.”

Samantha reveals that the salon appeals to Asian and Saudi women due to the customised treatments that they offer. “We have many Asian and Saudi women who come in with concerns that their hair is thinning.

“In many cases, they would have grown their hair long all their life, but kept it tied back all the time. This puts pressure on the roots, which can result in breakage around the hairline and widening of the parting.

“We have a range of treatments to encourage hair growth which nourish the scalp to tackle thinning hair.

“A particular favourite amongst our Saudi clients is an amazing Nano Keratin treatment which smooths the hair dramatically reducing the tendency for hair to frizz particularly when in a hot climate.

“For grey hairs, we have a product called ‘Colour Wow,’ which is like makeup for the hair in the form of an invisible powder that covers the greys. This product is great because it works in between shampoos. It’s also good if you just have the odd stray hair that has gone grey and you don’t want to permanently colour all of your hair.”

Samantha admits the location of the salon plays a key role for the business and attracts some famous clients.

“We are situated in the Beauty Hall next to the busiest MAC counter in Europe! So, it’s the perfect location - you can get your hair done and treat yourself to some make-up!

“Another bonus is the proximity of the underground car park, so your hair doesn’t need to deal with the inclement weather often experienced in Manchester! We are open 7 days a week, with later appointments on a Thursday up to 7pm.

“It’s not unusual to see some famous faces in the salon; Psychic Sally came in to us only recently and Abbey Clancy has visited us too. Regular clients include Coronation Street actresses and the team are often called upon to support celebrity photo shoots.

“We did the hair for Victoria Beckham’s models when Selfridges hosted a fashion show to launch Victoria’s new clothing range.”

Peter Marcus will be holding a talk for women about the cultural significance of covering one’s hair.

“We are hosting an evening for the Nisa-Nisham ladies group on 24 May in the salon. The speakers will talk about why women cover their hair and also about the health and wellbeing aspect of hair care.”

The event will run from 6:30pm to 8pm in the Selfridges salon.