How to pick a hairdresser (without the gamble)

Look at their photos, not their star rating. Book a consultation before a cut. And if you’ve never been before, start with a trim, not a transformation.

Everyone’s had the bad haircut story. Most of them start the same way – went somewhere new on a whim, didn’t explain properly, walked out wishing they’d stayed home. 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 get you to a shortlist. They don’t tell you if someone can cut your kind of hair. Here’s what actually matters:

• Their Instagram or portfolio. This is the real review. Every decent hairdresser posts their work. If there’s nothing that 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”, “took time on a fringe” – specifics tell you what they’re actually good at. Five-star “amazing staff” reviews tell you nothing.
• How long they’ve been at the same salon. Stylists move around, but a salon where people have been for years usually means a decent place to work, which usually means consistent quality.
• Whether they offer consultations. The good ones do, usually free, usually 15 minutes. It’s how they find out what you actually want before you’re sat in a gown.

What to ask in a consultation

If you’re booking for a colour, restyle, or anything you’re nervous about, get a consultation first. Here’s what to cover:

1. Show them photos. Three of the look you want, one or two of what you don’t. Words alone cause more bad haircuts than anything else on earth.
2. Ask if your hair type will actually do that. Fine hair, thick hair, curly hair – not every style works on every texture. A good stylist will tell you straight if it won’t.
3. Ask how long it’ll take. Half an hour for a trim, two hours for a cut and colour, all day for a full balayage. If the time they quote feels short, double-check.
4. Ask for the price in full. Cut, colour, toner, blowdry, product. Some salons quote the base service and add everything on at the till.
5. Ask about aftercare. If they’re just trying to upsell you on shampoo, fine – but the good ones will tell you how to actually look after what they’ve done.

Start small on a first visit

If you’ve never been to this salon, don’t book your wedding hair. Book a trim or a basic cut first. It tells you three things:

• Whether they actually listen when you explain what you want.
• Whether the final result is anywhere near what you asked for.
• Whether you feel comfortable – the chair chat, the pace, whether they rush you.

Spend £30 on a test run before you spend £150 on a colour that might go wrong. A good salon will never be offended by this – they’d rather you come back for the big thing.

Where to find them

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

First visit etiquette (from both sides)

The first appointment sets the tone for every future one. A few things worth doing yourself to make it easier:

• Arrive with clean, dry hair. Or at least follow their instructions – some prefer washing in-salon, some don’t.
• Be honest about your hair history. Home colour, box dye, previous bleach, relaxers, perms. All affect what’s possible.
• Speak up early if something’s not right. 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. 10% is standard, cash in hand appreciated. Not obligatory – but rewarded on the next visit.

The short version

• Use the salon’s portfolio or Instagram as the real review – photos tell you what they can actually do.
• Look for reviews that mention hair like yours, not generic five-star fluff.
• Book a consultation before anything more ambitious than a trim.
• First visit? Start small. A test-run cut is the cheapest insurance you’ll ever buy.
• Ask for the full price up front, including toner, product, and blowdry.

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.