Outside Virgin Money and the Odeon Cinema on New Street, a mosaic emblem lies embedded in the pavement, marking the site of a legendary 1950s hair salon. The ornate letter 'R' with a crown and crossed scissors is a remnant of Raymond's, the salon of Raymond Bessone, known as Mr Teasy-Weasy.
Discovery Through Social Media
Kirsty Bosley, a features writer for BirminghamLive, has been uncovering hidden gems in the city through her TikTok and Instagram accounts. A message from Birmingham hairdresser Jordan Davies led her to the emblem. 'As a hairdresser that works in Birmingham, I found it pretty cool to notice that there is still a mosaic of interlocking scissors with the letter R from the old Raymond's hair salon from the 50s, intact,' Davies told Bosley.
Raymond Bessone: The TV Hairdresser
Raymond Bessone, born in London in 1911, was the first TV hairdresser, known for his faux French accent, Champagne fountains in his London salon, and a glittering client list. His Birmingham salon opened in 1956 and operated until the 1980s. He trained Vidal Sassoon and invented the modern bouffant. According to old press cuttings, he believed women over 20 should keep their hair short and disliked centre partings.
Hollywood Connections
Raymond's fame extended to Hollywood, where he owned a villa off Sunset Boulevard bought from Marlene Dietrich. He threw parties for Doris Day, Eddie Fisher, Liberace, Zsa Zsa Gabor, John Wayne, and Ginger Rogers. Actress Diana Dors reportedly opened the Birmingham branch, having spent £2,500 to fly Raymond from Hollywood for a shampoo and set.
Local Memories and Ongoing Search
Jordan Davies remarked, 'It was such an amazing salon back in the day and so many glamorous people must have crossed those tiles.' Bosley encourages anyone with stories about Raymond's to contact her at kirsty.bosley@reachplc.com, as she continues to document Birmingham's hidden history.
