Spa Utopia salon director stylist, James Riyad, takes Allilon course

Spa Utopia and Salon stylist, James Riyad, has just returned from a 10-day training course at the prestigious Allilon centre in London, England.

Founded in 2008, Allilon (the name  is ancient Greek for one another) specializes in producing educational hair shows and seminars exploring shape and form in haircutting techniques. The company is now recognized as the premier venue in Europe for those wishing to finely hone their skills in cutting edge hair design.

Photographs courtesy of James Riyad

For James, who is already a talented hair designer, and director of Spa Utopia salon, the 10-day intensive course provided enhanced understanding of the role each single hair has to play in the finished cut and style. "It all breaks down to math, geometry and  precision," he explains. "We are creating a shape that must look natural on a rounded object—the head—and this requires both understanding the principles of geometry and using one's innate creative flair. The result is a cut and style that not only looks spectacular, but functions as a whole because each individual hair has its job to do in the creation of shape and form."

The training course  featured one-on-one training with Allilon's famed designers, an experience James found both challenging and enjoyable.



Photograph courtesy of James Riyad




















James is excited at the prospect of using his newly acquired knowledge to create stunning precision cuts for his clients. You may book an appointment with James at the Spa Utopia and Salon North Vancouver or Langley locations by calling directly: 604 539-8772 (Langley) or 604 980-3922 (North Vancouver).

Spa Utopia and Salon welcomes new and talented hair designers

Spa Utopia and Salon is becoming increasingly popular as a destination for those "in the know." Due to the growing demand for our cutting, styling and colour services, we have recently welcomed new stylists to our North Vancouver and Langley salons. As regular salon guests already know, all our stylists are licensed professionals with advanced training and many have won awards for their excellence in all aspects of hair design. Our dedicated designers have also successfully completed  Spa Utopia’s in-house training, to ensure the exceptional service and care you can expect when visiting one of our salon locations. Each designer is committed to advanced education in colouring, cutting and chemical applications to ensure our guests enjoy the most current and fashion forward hair trends.

We warmly welcome to our Langley location: Master Designers Jay and Charlene, Senior Designer Bernadine, and Designers Jaclyn and Claudia.

...and to our North Vancouver location:  Master Designers Andrew (Salon Department Head), Nancy and Chris, and Senior Designers Stephanie and Jessica.

Our new stylists are looking forward to attending to your specific hair-care and styling needs. We are therefore offering a 30% discount on bookings with specific stylists for a limited time, to allow you to meet and experience our very talented hair experts.

At Spa Utopia and Salon we pride ourselves on providing an unmatched cut/styling/colour experience, along with all the little extras that make your visit memorable. Our guests are provided with complimentary beverages, and enjoy a scalp massage and makeup touch-up, if desired, as part of their service. Spa Utopia and Salon locations are open seven days a week and some evenings (please check with your local salon or our website for hours of operation).

For more information on the many specialized services offered at our salon locations, please visit the Spa Utopia website.