How to pick a hairdresser (without the gamble)

Look at their photos rather than their star rating, book a consultation before a cut, and if you’ve never been before, start with a trim rather than a transformation.

Everyone has a bad haircut story, and most of them start the same way: somewhere new on a whim, a rushed explanation, and a walk home wishing you’d stayed in. There are hairdressers and barbers listed across the UK on WotsItCalled, and a bit of homework before your first visit saves a lot of grief.

What actually tells you if a salon is any good

Star ratings will get you a shortlist, but they won’t tell you whether someone can cut your kind of hair. For that, look at:

• Their Instagram or portfolio. This is the real review, and every decent hairdresser posts their work. If nothing looks remotely like what you want, they probably can’t do it. If every photo is the same bob, they’ve got one trick.
• Reviews that mention hair like yours. “Brilliant with curls”, “great colour work” or “took time on a fringe” tell you what they’re good at. A five-star “amazing staff” tells you nothing.
• How long they’ve been at the same salon. Stylists move around, but a salon where people stay for years is usually a decent place to work, and that tends to show in the quality.
• Whether they offer consultations. The good ones do, usually free and about 15 minutes long. It’s how they find out what you want before you’re sat in a gown.

What to ask in a consultation

For a colour, a restyle or anything you’re nervous about, book a consultation first and cover these:

1. Show them photos. Bring three of the look you want and one or two of what you don’t. Relying on words alone causes more bad haircuts than anything else.
2. Ask if your hair type will actually do that. Not every style works on fine, thick or curly hair, and a good stylist will tell you straight if yours won’t.
3. Ask how long it’ll take. Roughly half an hour for a trim, two hours for a cut and colour, and most of the day for a full balayage. If their estimate sounds short, check again.
4. Ask for the price in full. That means cut, colour, toner, blow-dry and product, because some salons quote the base service and add the rest at the till.
5. Ask about aftercare. A bit of shampoo upselling is fine, but the good ones will also tell you how to look after what they’ve done.

Start small on a first visit

Don’t book your wedding hair at a salon you’ve never tried. A trim or a basic cut first will show you:

• Whether they listen when you explain what you want.
• Whether the result is anywhere near what you asked for.
• Whether you’re comfortable with the chat, the pace and how rushed it feels.

Spending £30 on a test run beats spending £150 on a colour that might go wrong. A good salon won’t be offended, because they’d rather you came back for the big job.

Where to find them

The hairdressers and barbers directory on WotsItCalled covers salons across the UK. Start with your nearest city, such as hairdressers in Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield or Manchester, then click through to a listing, check their Instagram and ring to book a consultation.

First visit etiquette (from both sides)

The first appointment sets the tone for the rest, and you can make it easier on both of you:

• Arrive with clean, dry hair. Or follow whatever they ask, since some salons prefer to wash it themselves.
• Be honest about your hair history. Home colour, box dye, old bleach, relaxers and perms all affect what’s possible.
• Speak up early if something’s not right. Say it while they’re cutting, not afterwards. Any good stylist would rather know at the sink than at the till.
• Budget a tip if you’re happy. Around 10% is standard and cash is appreciated. It’s not obligatory, but it tends to be remembered next time.

The short version

• A salon’s portfolio or Instagram tells you more than its star rating.
• Look for reviews that mention hair like yours.
• Book a consultation for anything more ambitious than a trim.
• On a first visit, start small. A test-run cut is cheap insurance.
• Get the full price up front, including toner, product and blow-dry.

WotsItCalled is a free UK business directory. No signup, no catch. Find the place everyone’s on about, or browse the full hairdressers and barbers directory.