Percy & Reed

Percy & Reed is a British haircare company based in London, known for salon-quality products developed and manufactured in the United Kingdom. It grew out of a hairdressing salon opened in 2007 on Great Portland Street, in London's West End, and moved into retail haircare in 2011 [10]. The brand remains active: its online shop was trading in mid-2026, with dated promotions, recent product launches, and a working salon in central London.

The company was founded by session stylists Paul Percival and Adam Reed, whose surnames give the brand its name. Sources differ on how it is dated. Industry directories and editorial profiles record 2007 as the founding year, tied to the salon [10]; the company's own account distinguishes that salon opening from the 2011 launch of its product range [2]. Both dates are commonly cited, one marking the salon's origin and the other the start of the packaged-haircare business.

The founding story begins with the West End salon on Great Portland Street, where Percival and Reed built their reputation as session stylists. According to Vanity Group, the pair wanted to "share their wealth of knowledge and hair tricks with everyone, not just the rich and famous" — an idea the company frames as bringing professional results out of the salon and into the home.

The two founders are not attributed consistently. Percy & Reed's current "about" and team pages name only Paul Percival, listed as a leading session stylist, and do not mention Adam Reed [2]. Several independent editorial and directory sources — among them TheIndustry.beauty and Vanity Group — name both Percival and Reed as co-founders [10][11], and the brand name itself derives from Percival and Reed. On that basis both count as founders.

Percy & Reed makes haircare and styling products, organised into collections aimed at concerns such as volume, hydration, shine, colour protection, strength and scalp health. Its range spans shampoos and conditioners, serums and oils, treatments and styling products; recurring lines include the "I Need a Hero!" wonder shampoo, the Give Me Strength strengthening conditioner, and the Wonder Oil Elixir Drops introduced as a recent launch. Formulas draw on ingredients such as caffeine, sweet white lupine, keratin, natural proteins and macadamia oil.

Some products carry performance claims. Face the Future reports that the strengthening conditioner reduces hair breakage by 54% from the first use [9], and the company promotes "3x stronger hair in just one use" for its Strength collection. Among the brand's more distinctive releases is the Royal Blossom Wonder Balm hair primer, produced in collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces [9]. The company also states that it donates to the Institute for In Vitro Sciences, a non-animal testing research body.

The brand positions itself around what it calls "effortlessly beautiful hair," translating salon expertise into products meant to deliver reliable results at home [2]. British identity is central to how it presents itself: it describes its products as conceived, formulated and manufactured in the United Kingdom, and draws on London and British heritage as a source of inspiration [2]. Its trademarked tagline is "The Effortless Way To Seriously Good Hair."

On ethics, the company states that it has never tested its products, ingredients or raw materials on animals, and that its products do not contain parabens; it says its newer shampoos and conditioners are also free of sulphates [5]. Manufacturing is described as taking place entirely in the UK.

Percy & Reed operates with a full corporate leadership team, including a chief executive, Shannon de Boissard, alongside trading, finance and marketing directors [10]. No parent company or ownership structure is disclosed in the available sources, and no acquisitions are recorded.

The brand and its products have received press coverage and industry awards. Editorial coverage lists a Harper's Bazaar "Best Hair Primer" recognition and a CEW award for best new haircare product, and reports that the brand has earned "over 100 awards and accolades globally" [9]. Its London salon has been profiled in ELLE, described as "tending to the tresses of London's most discerning clients."

Percy & Reed is an active company. Its first-party online store was trading in mid-2026, showing dated promotions, a 2026 copyright notice and newly launched products, and its central London salon continues to operate [8]. The brand reports distribution in 28 countries [2], sold through retailers and concessions including Sephora, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, Amazon and NEXT.