Chopping Out Waste at the Salon
By Justin Todd (9/28/25) — London, UK
A fresh haircut is great, but sustainability is even better. After waking up with a bed-head for a week straight, I knew it was time for a trim. Since this was my first haircut in London, I did some research and came across Chop Chop London, a salon that embodies sustainability and diversity through its operations. Intrigued by its mission statement, I booked an appointment at their Camden location.
Browsing their website, I quickly learned what made Chop Chop London a sustainable business. Unlike other hair salons, Chop Chop London does not price-discriminate against gender. Benjamin, a stylist and colorist at Chop Chop London, said, “Some people think that because women have longer hair, they should be paying more. It’s not about the price. It’s about what you see in your mirror and how that person feels in your chair.”
In an industry where price discrimination is common, Chop Chop chooses to prioritize its customers over its profits. It continues to work against economic and gender inequalities that have been instilled in the hair styling industry for so long.
Chop Chop London’s sustainability practices do not stop there. The hair salon invests in sustainability through its cutting methods, products, and infrastructure. Founder and CEO Kaye Brown, who started Chop Chop London without a hairstyling background, emphasizes the benefits of dry cutting: “By doing your hair on dry cuts, we’re able to give you the same results in half the time that it takes. You do three things in that situation. You save time. You save money. And we use 70% less water than traditional salons, which is fantastic for the planet."
When I arrived at Chop Chop London’s Camden location, I noticed the salon’s modern and minimalist look. It was unlike many of the hair salons I saw growing up. I met my barber and explained the hairstyle I was going for. He decided that it was best to quickly wash and blow-dry my hair, probably because it was messy.
As he worked on my hair, I observed my barber’s sustainable habits. Instead of using disposable paper to keep hair out of my shirt, he put a reusable rubber cloak around my neck, limiting unnecessary waste. There was also no continuous spraying of water applied to my hair, which is something I experienced at past salons. The only time he used water was to initially wash my hair, which my previous barbers usually did twice.
I asked what else makes Chop Chop London sustainable, and he mentioned that the materials used for their building and products are recycled or sustainably sourced.
I will admit that I was hesitant to cut my hair dry, but I am satisfied with my fresh cut and sustainable hair salon choice. Next stop: Camden Market for lunch!
References
S, Kaye. “Chop Chop London.” Chop Chop London, 23 Sept. 2025, www.chopchoplondon.com/camden. Accessed 26 Sept. 2025.
