Our Story
The year is 1972, the highest charting single of the year was ‘Without You’ by Nilsson, Donny Osmond was at number one for five weeks with ‘Puppy Love’, and in terms of hair, the ‘Beehive’ and the sharp Sassoon cuts of the 1960s were disappearing, while new androgynous styles for women, and long hair with lots of facial hair for men were becoming popular.
1972 was also the year Sandra started working for Mrs Gardiner at Gardiner’s Hair Salon on Bank Street in Melksham. The salon was located on the first floor above Mr Gardiner’s pharmacy and employed a team of 9 hairdressers, a part-time receptionist, and a salon assistant.
Mr & Mrs Gardiner with their hairdressing and pharmacy employees
Roll on 6 years, Mr & Mrs Gardiner decide to retire and, recognising that Sandra was a hard worker with business and management abilities, offered to sell the salon to her. In December 1978, Gardiner’s transformed into Tops Hair Salon and stayed in its current location for 13 years, witnessing Prince Charles marrying Diana and the first Live Aid Concert. Hair was big, and those blessed with naturally curly locks teased it and sprayed it to incredible heights. The perm became popular and so, unfortunately, did the ‘business at the front, party at the back’ hairstyle, ‘The Mullet’.’
Tops in the early 1980s with octagonal mirrors
Sandra’s daughter, Alexandra, on reception in the 1980s
Sandra (front) and her team
On 19 October 1991, Tops was on the move and relocated to ground floor premises on the High Street. The shop, previously a haberdashery, was converted into a large, modern hair salon with a beauty salon and its new logo was the same shape as the salon’s mirrors, octagonal. Crimping and high ponytails with oversized scrunchies were popular and ‘The Rachel’ was the most iconic haircut of the decade.
Alexandra and Victoria, during the renovations
Sandra, Christmas 1997, with the octagonal mirrors
However, Tops began to outgrow the premises again and, in 2004, moved almost directly across the road to its current home, 5 High Street, a former department store, called Gowens.
Gowens in the 1990s
Sandra’s daughters, Alexandra and Victoria, grew up in the salon environment and were always on hand to give clients ice creams made of curlers and hair nets or, as they got older, sweep up and make teas and coffees. Sandra’s youngest daughter, Victoria (Director & Salon Manager) started hairdressing in 2004 and joined Tops in 2007. Victoria’s major achievements include being chosen to join The Fellowship for British Hairdressing’s ClubStar Art Team and the Project X Art Team as well as presenting models on stage at Salon International and Professional Hairdresser Live. Victoria also entered Tops Hair Salon & Beauty in a national competition, Creative Head Magazine’s ‘Best Local Salon’, and won a place in the final. Sandra’s eldest daughter, Alexandra, joined Tops in 2014 as Director & Office Manager.
Victoria and Alexandra now run the salon day-to-day, but Sandra is still very much involved in the business. Victoria and Alexandra continue to evolve the salon and invest in the education and skills of their employed team to enable the salon to offer a full range of hair and beauty treatments.
The salon was completely refurbished in June 2020 and the decoration includes some octagonal pieces as a reminder of the salon’s history.
Today, as one of the longest-standing businesses in Melksham, Tops is proud to be part of the local community and offer clients a high-quality, enjoyable experience while using the industry’s best haircare and colouring products.
Salon Achievements & Highlights
Muddy Stillettos, Best Local Salon 2019 Winner
PRS for Music, Music Makeover Salon Competition 2017 Finalist
Creative Head Most Wanted 2012, Best Local Salon Finalist