RMUK Hair Beauty Salon Leeds

In need of a beauty blitz, Suzanna Bain fron the Yorkshire Post headed to the RMUK hair and beauty salon in Leeds.

Due to the law of physics, there’s no getting away from the fact I’m no longer in my twenties, in spite of what I might tell myself and others.

To boost my mood a lengthy sun worshipping holiday was in order, so I headed to Egypt to gleefully speed along those wrinkles and give the aging process a helping hand.

Weeks later and my skin was feeling the strain, even thought I’d been moisturising like a women processed. My hair was parched too, with fizzy streaks of six month old bleached out highlights making me look more Worzel than wonderful.

Time for the experts at RMUK to work their magic. First it’s a Dermalogica facial with therapist Jo. After an intensive process of cleansing, exfoliating, blackhead annihilation and rehydration, I notice a definite improvement in overall condition and radiance and the positive effects last well into the following week.

Next up’s a manicure and I want bold neon brights to show off my tan. I opt for Bio Sculpture Gel nails because I’ve heard they’re a god send in terms of durability. Several intensive shopping sessions later and I’m defiantly inclined to agree, there isn’t a chip or scratch in sight. They must be indestructible.

On to my sad and sorry hair. Cue style guru Massi, who talks me through the pros and cons of attempting a miraculous transformation from Gummage to Gwyneth with a long, sleek, blunt bob. Sadly, “The Paltrow” is too high maintenance for my wash and go lifestyle and too blonde for my natural colouring, so I plump for a style and hue that will pretty much take care of itself, while giving greater depth and interest.

Enter Jon, angel of tresses, who miraculously banishes my boring nonentity of a straggly, weighty, shapeless mop by replacing it with a glamorous, textured and shoulder skimming do, resplendent with beautiful warm honey tones.

I can’t believe how great I feel after visiting RMUK and would defiantly recommend it for a pre or post holiday beauty blitz, or even if you just fancy a change.

Son and Hair. Massi’s interview this week in the Yorkshire Post .

Massi Moura, 30, is co-owner of RMUK a hair and beauty salon on The Headrow, which was founded by his father, Roberto Moura and his mother Laura.

He has worked in the hairdressing industry since the age of nine. He has run RMUK for the last seven years. He has known partner Michelle Mack for the last three years.

The one thing I could not live without is my team work. We employ 17 people and we’re all quite close-knit. The other thing would be cooking. I love it, so I couldn’t live without my kitchen. I love preparing food for other people, especially barbecuing. I once went to the butcher and bought a full pig and then hung it from its legs in my garage and carved it up.

My first Job I got when I was seven, at a place called Stop&Shop. My parents used to bring me into work and one day I had a look and wandered into this shop. The owner was about to close but had lost his keys. I helped him look for them and he offered me a job, paying £7 a day. I used to save it all and every week I’d go down to Leeds Building Society to have my book updated. Then when I was nine I started working in the salon, making cups of tea and washing hair. The first thing I ever bought with the money was a Ferguson walkman, with a built in radio and a graphic equaliser, it cost £79.99 and was top of the range.

 
I am most proud of the fact we have managed to keep the business going over the last year, during the recession, and to keep our reputation and even take on new staff. We’ve not had to cut their hours, or their wages. In some ways, the recession is a good thing because it makes you look very hard at your business and how you can improve it, not just for yourself in terms of saving money, but in terms of giving value for money to the customer. I think it’s important that whilst we’re in these financially difficult times, we offer a service which people feel benefits them, so, for example, every hair cut comes with a complimentary head and neck massage. If people can leave here feeling that little bit better about themselves, it’s like putting on a new pair of shoes, or a new shirt. It just gives you a lift.

I drive a Subaru Legacy 2005 petrol, which I’ve had for three years. The car I’d like to be driving is a Lamborghini Murcielago.

The last film I saw at the cinema was Madagascar 2. The last film I bought were all 3 Terminator films, Yes Man, The Wild, Wall-E and the new James bond, all in one fell swoop.

My best holiday ever was in Cuba a few years ago. We went for two weeks and had an amazing time. We cycled out into the jungle and visited some of the villages out there.

The best thing about Leeds is that it’s still got a lot of potential. I think the thing we have to remember is that whilst a lot of people have been made unemployed, the majority have managed to keep their jobs.

To relax I love to exercise. I generally get up at about 6am and do a three mile run, after which I go to the gym.

I last cried when I was 18 and my pet dog, Cuchala (which means puppy in Italian), died. She was also 18 and me being an only child, we used to go everywhere together. She used to walk me to the bus stop on my way to school, then walk home again on her own. She was a cross between a Labrador and a Colly. I had to make the decision to have her put down.

In terms of having a philosophy on Life I’m a people person. I like to help people and I get pleasure from that, whether it’s being nice to my girlfriend or helping a member of my team realise a goal.

If I could meet anyone living or dead It would have to be Michael Jackson. I just think he’s contributed so much to pop music and is probably the greatest artist to have lived.

Something that might surprise other people is I’m quite a shy person, I know we’re doing this today but I hate attention. My parents got me a big cake for my 30th birthday and when the spotlight was on me, I just wanted to crawl inside my beer bottle.

My joke is how do you annoy Lady Gaga? Poker face.

Favourite things.

Favourite food: It’s got to be steak.

Favourite Programme: Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmare’s is brilliant. I’m glued to the TV when it’s on. I think I can relate to him in a way and I understand his frustrations when something is not as it should be.

Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption.

Favourite actor: Eddie Murphy, or Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler. I loved Click and Happy Gilmore

Star sign: Pisces.

Roberto, Massi and the RMUK Hair Beauty Salon team have been featured in latest issue of the Leeds Guide. Article By Annie Moss.

A Girl Couldn’t Ask for Moura

Annie Moss samples the RMUK experience

When he’s not solving our hair and beauty problems in his fortnightly column, Massi Moura is busy running well-established independent salon RMUK. So who better to meet for a consultation to plan my new look?

The first thing I notice when I arrive at the salon for my consultation is how vast the place is. The second thing I notice is the buzz and the busy yet welcoming atmosphere. There are so many stylists milling around, chatting and laughing with their customers while attending to their every need. Shortly after I arrive, I am led to a rather glamorous waiting area upstairs where I am guided to a plush designer-upholstered bench opposite what appears to be a bar. While I am waiting I see staff constantly coming up and down the stairs to the bar providing lattes and cappuccinos for clients. Moments later, I am met by Massi who is a very business-like, yet warm and welcoming, man who puts me at ease straight away. We dive into the consultation discussing what I do and don’t like about my hair and what he thinks would improve my overall look. I decided to put myself completely in his hands.

Massi seems excited at the prospect of having free reign to do what he wants with my hair and quickly comes up with a bespoke style just for me. To help clarify his plan, he highlights images and colour samples from a large selection of books he has been using as a source of inspiration. He also explains the science behind his choice of cut, colour and products.

Two autumnal shades of red are chosen from the brand new L’Oreal colour collection. I am the first at their salon to try them. Massi reassures me that these tones will work well with my pale complexion and blue eyes. Once the decision is made, I am led to a chair where I have my own individual TV showing the E! Channel. Massi gets on with mixing the colours while my complimentary drink order is taken by one of his friendly staff. I opt for herbal tea, which is delivered promptly in a little tea pot accompanied by a china cup and saucer.

RMUK offers while-you-wait manicures and pedicures, as many of their clients are, like me, very busy. So I go for an express manicure and choose a shade of red to match my new hair colour whilst the hair dye develops. Soon enough it’s time to wash off the dyes and add the lighter red tone to my hair. My hair is washed with L’Oreal Serie Expert Volume Expand shampoo (£8.25) and conditioner (£9.25) which is perfect for fine hair.

While I sit waiting for the toner to develop, I see the salon’s co-owner Roberto walk into the salon with the air of a celebrity. It turns out Roberto will be finishing off my hair makeover with a cut and style. Roberto approaches smiling and sits himself down beside me. He reiterates that the style they have chosen is short and textured, which will add body and compliment my bone structure. He shows me a picture from one of his books to ensure I understand exactly what he plans to do. After the cut is finished, he applies L’Oreal Serie Expert Volume Expand Volumising Styling Mousse for fine hair (£10.25) and explains that I should use a light mousse rather than a wax-based product. To finish off, he blow dries my hair straight and uses L’Oreal Techni.art Color Show Finish Spray (£11.30) to complete the style.

Although it took a bit of getting used to, I love my new style and colour, and am glad that I was brave enough to put my faith in Massi. If you feel your current style is lacklustre and fancy a change, I thoroughly recommend RMUK. It is perfect if you need a bit of pampering as the staff will spoil you rotten and attend to your every need. It can cater for groups, and is even licensed to serve food, so can provide lunch should you want to make a day of it. Also on offer are facials, waxing and massage, making it a one stop shop for all your beauty needs.

Leeds Guide Website