The Merci Hair Story
Still doing hair.
Still doing it differently.
What began as a passion in 2013 has grown into a trusted Cape Town hair studio built on experience, honesty and beautifully personal results. Through every trend, technique and transformation, our purpose has remained the same: to create hair that feels considered, flattering and completely yours.
The Founder
The name behind Merci Hair
Merci Hair was created as an opportunity to use years of experience to approach hair differently—placing honesty, individuality and the client at the centre of every decision.
Nurjehaan Israel is the stylist and creative mind behind Merci Hair. After years of learning the industry, collecting inspiration and observing what clients genuinely needed, she created a space where expertise could feel personal.
Hairdressers can sometimes become so absorbed in the industry that they forget to look beyond it. But the best hair is often influenced by far more than fashion and beauty. It comes from understanding how people want to feel, what gives them confidence and what makes them feel most like themselves.
Anyone can bring in a reference image. What interests us is the feeling behind that reference. Do you want to feel softer, stronger, more polished, more expressive or simply more comfortable in your own hair? That is where the real consultation begins.
This philosophy shaped Merci Hair into a welcoming, female-only studio where clients can feel heard, understood and confident in the advice they receive.
Our Journey
From experience to identity
Merci Hair has evolved through years of practical experience, creative experimentation and long-standing relationships with clients from Cape Town and around the world.
The journey began
Nurjehaan entered the hair industry with a curiosity that extended beyond cuts, colour and styling. She began developing the technical skill and personal approach that would later define Merci Hair.
Merci Hair was born
Merci Hair was established as a welcoming, female-only studio where clients could receive honest guidance, personalised service and results created around the person wearing them.
Still evolving
With more than 250 loyal returning clients and over 5,000 clients served, Merci Hair continues to refine its craft while staying true to the values on which it was built.
Our Aesthetic
Effortless meets refined
Our work moves comfortably between raw and refined. We love soft, dimensional colour, healthy shine, natural movement and hair that feels beautifully undone.
We also appreciate the simplicity of something meticulously polished: seamless colour placement, a technically precise cut and a finish that appears effortless because every detail has been considered.
Some results are subtle. Others are transformative. What matters is that the finished hair complements the person wearing it and feels unmistakably intentional.
Great hair should make someone pause for a second and look closer.
The Merci Approach
Beautiful hair starts with being heard.
Personal
Every recommendation is shaped around your features, lifestyle, natural texture, maintenance preferences and long-term hair goals.
Honest
No confusing jargon, unnecessary treatments or unrealistic promises—just straightforward guidance based on what is best for your hair.
Considered
We do not recreate trends without considering whether they are right for you. Every cut, colour and finish is created with intention.
Hair, Made Personal
Your best hair begins with a conversation.
Tell us about your hair, the result you want and how you would like to feel. We will help you choose the right cut, colour or treatment for your goals.
Schedule a consultation