... I swear I would have completely walked past it had the sign not been there - it's quite easy to miss! Walk down this alleyway and it leads to St Christopher's Place; the Toni&Guy building is on the left, past the fountain.
Anyway, I got there, and told the receptionist I wanted a colour ... Read review
Newly repackaged Label M Honey&Oat Conditioner from the Condition Range of Label M. This ... more
range is the second preparation stage and the products are designed to complement the "cleanse" and work to nourish and add shine in addition to hair and scalp treatments.
Postage & Packaging:£1.80 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Newly repackaged Label M Honey&Oat Conditioner from the Condition Range of Label M. This ... more
range is the second preparation stage and the products are designed to complement the "cleanse" and work to nourish and add shine in addition to hair and scalp treatments.
Postage & Packaging:£1.80 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Excellent, stylish cuts for FREE/£5; Pleasant surroundings Disadvantages: Weekday appointments only; Restricted Times; Time consuming
...Salons in London to model for them... £20 for 1/4 head, £30 for 1/2... I'm not sure which to go for; £30 seems a lot for something that will eventually grow out. We'll see...
Toni & Guy Academy: 020 7908 3824 to book. ... more
As a lowly student, I am, of course, typically perenially short of cash. So what do you do when there's not enough dosh in your purse, but too much hair on your head?
Well, I've constantly come across those adverts screaming "hairdressing models required" in the free "GAT" magazines... but I was waaay too scared... being really quite tetchy about my unruly hair, the mere prospect of letting a student near my head with a pair of scissors was unthinkable! But when the hair starts looking more like a bush-caught-in-a-whirlwind than actual hair, I decided it'd be worth giving it a try, especially after reading the favourable reviews on 'ciao' and 'dooyoo' (yes, in my paranoia, I researched extensively before even considering booking).
~*Booking*~
There are several branches of the academy, all dedicated to different services - cuts or colour etc. So I wanted both a cut AND highlights, so I decided to go for the branch in St Christopher's Place, Central London. Well, I tried calling them first, using the number was on the advert, but I couldn't get through as the "number was unavailable". So I decided to trudge down there myself. The location is relatively easy to get to, if not cunningly hidden - cross the road from Bond Street Station (on the Picadilly Line), walk in the direction AWAY from Selfridges, and you'll normally see a large sign advertising something in St Christopher's Place, pointing down a narrow alleyway (called "Gees Court") off Oxford Street. I swear I would have completely walked past it had the sign not been there - it's quite easy to miss! Walk down this alleyway and it leads to St Christopher's Place; the Toni&Guy building is on the left, past the fountain.
Anyway, I got there, and told the receptionist I wanted a colour and a cut. She promptly swiped something behind my ears with a cotton bud as a colour test - I'd have to ring back the following monday with news of the results, and then she'd book an appointment. Now, being the idiot that I am, I had to go back to Uni (miles and miles from London!) the next Thursday (I'd left it so late because I just hadn't thought of this until then! Plus I was trying to save money by putting off any regrowth time). so I asked her if there'd be any colour appointments going before that - she said no. So much for that, then :(
So, I asked for a cutting appointment - she made one for me for the following Monday, at 3pm in Knightsbridge. This puzzled me somewhat, as no amount of googling came up with any Toni&Guy Academy in Knightsbridge... plus my voucher only mentioned the ones on Stamford Road and St Chrisophers Place. Being slightly paranoid (and REALLY not wanting to pay - cheapskate, I know, but if I can get it free...!) I rang the number I was given for the Knightsbridge branch... I was told that I had reached the salon; that they had a branch of the Academy downstairs in their basement(?), and no, they had nothing to do with them, so they wouldn't know. (I then rang St Chrisophers Place again - their phones now working - and they assured me that yes, my voucher was still valid). So that left me a couple of days to stew in worry about how my hair would look the following week...
~*Getting There*~
Getting to the Knightsbridge branch was easy - hop on the Picadilly Line to Knightsbridge tube station, head to the high street (Brompton Road), turn left and walk; it's a little way down at number 241. The reviews I read advised getting there about 15 mins before the appointment, but this is NOT necessary - I was told to go away and come back at 3! (Which reminds me, *money saving tip*: there are 2 appointment times, all on weekdays; one will be early in the morning (think 9-10am or so), the other in the afternoon (2pm-3pm), depending on the branch. If you go for the later one, the tube fares will be cheaper as you won't have to travel at peak time).
~*The Experience*~
At 3 I showed up again, and was taken to the back door. Down a flight of stairs (really not wheelchair-friendly, I'm afraid), there was a couple of chairs and some sheets of paper laid out. Two teachers were in the next room, briefing two students. The area was clean and had a pleasant atmosphere (dispelling any misgivings I had when I heard that it was situated in a 'basement'). I was told to sit down, read through their terms and conditions, and sign a form stating that yes, I was over 18, the cut would take a long time, and I might prefer the results in a salon, BUT that every effort would be made that both student and client go away happy with the result :) They don't tick off names, so theoretically anyone who just showed up could get their hair done. However, boooking is the only way you'll know for sure that the ratio of models to students won't be ridiculously low/high, and otherwise you won't know where to go, or at what time.
Including myself, there were only 3 hair models (so one lucky woman got hers done by the teacher!); they paid £5 each and I handed over my voucher. I was then asked by a teacher what I wanted. I pulled out a picture of a hairstyle (a true "here's one I found earlier!" moment) and showed it to her; she assigned me to her student and told me to repeat what I wanted to her. The student took my coat and scarf, helped me put on a robe, and listened as I described what I wanted. She filled out a consultation form detailing what my lifestyle was, the shape of my face, hair density etc - showing that they really do take into consideration the needs of the individual models. So all the rumours that you have no choice when modelling for students are false - she and her teacher made sure they understood exactly what I wanted before starting.
Then I had a towel draped around me and was led to the washbasins. The wash wasn't the most comfortable experience ever, as the basin dug into my neck a bit; however the wonderful smells of the "TIGI Bed Head" products they used proved an adequate distraction! That's one thing I regret - not asking exactly which products they used on me, so I'd know for future reference (namely if I won the lottery and could afford those TIGI hair products, I'd know which to buy!).
Then the cut. I asked for a layered, choppy cut with a soft fringe - and mine was the last to be finished. The student was very careful about how she cut it, measuring and re-measuring strands to make sure they were even... which, although it may have been time-consuming, was very reassuring as I knew she'd make sure the end result was perfect :) Turns out she'd not done a style exactly like mine before, but I have to say I think she did a wonderful job. She made sure to ask the teacher if she needed any help, and the teacher tidied up any incongruities, while telling her exactly what to do. It was really interesting to hear all the technical terms for the angle of the cuts and the techniques used, too... it really enforces the idea that hairdressing isn't just a necessity, it's an acquired art! So yeah, the cut was done, firstly to technical conventions, and was then "personalised" bu the student to soften the layers, making it less uniform. The student was really nice; although there was minimal chat (which mostly occured at the wash basin), at least then I felt she was concentrating on my hair!
I was asked how I'd like the hair finished, which took me aback a little (can you tell I've not been to a salon before, let alone an academy?) - so I just said, "flick it out... make it look like the picture". "Smooth?" "Yeah... I guess." Cue more lovely-smelling products, a radial brush and a hairdryer. Even at this stage the student took great time over it... although both the teacher and other student had finished with their models a while ago, she carefully flicked out my hair. As it was progressing, the other student and both teachers remarked on how good my hair was looking :) When it was finished, I swear my hair has never been so glossy, or had such a kick to the flicks! The student and teacher were really courteous as well, thanking me for my time almost as profusely as my thanking them for the cut!
I have only 2 issues with them: one, they didn't wipe my face after cutting, so I had lots of little hairs stuck to it... which I only realised when I looked in the mirror after I stopped to use the washrooms in Harrods! And secondly, they didn't offer to show me what the back of my hair looked like... but I forgive them for that as when I went home and checked it out, it looked fantastic. I couldn't have asked for more from a free haircut :D
~*Conclusion*~
So after I brushed off my face, I walked back with my head held high and my hair flicking and tossing like nobody's business. I got home and my mum had just cut her hair for £10... wash and blow dry not included... and mine still looked better! I think I'll pass my next voucher onto her... ;)
Well, I hope this was useful to anyone considering getting their hair cut by students, at a mere fraction of the price. In any case, I reckon it's worth a go... after all, hair grows out. Right, I'm off to check out cheap(er) highlights now. I managed to make an appointment at Hebe Hair Salons in London to model for them... £20 for 1/4 head, £30 for 1/2... I'm not sure which to go for; £30 seems a lot for something that will eventually grow out. We'll see...
Advantages: Nice student discount, good reputation, nice salons, a lot of choice of stylists. Disadvantages: Made my hair a complete disaster.
Despite being quite image-conscious, I'd never really gone to a professional hair salon before (apart from Saks for some layers) - instead choosing to stick to my local ones which has always done right by me.
However, after noticing how good the hair of two of my best friends - one male and one female - I asked them where they had their hair cut and styled and both replied 'Toni&Guy'. Toni&Guy are a chain of hairdressers - very well-known throughout ... ...cutting the hair of male and female customers. They also have their own brand of hair products that are quite cheap and are readily available in Boots stores/supermarkets etc.
With such a good reputation and when my locks became too long and tired and basically in desperate need of a chop 6 months or so later (after a move from Telford where my friends were to Bristol/Bath), I decided to pick up the phone and try out Toni&Guy. I was aware that they ...
Trixie_Firecracker 01.02.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Toni and Guy
Advantages: great trained stylists, clean, friendly Disadvantages: price
...virtues of my hairdressing salon, Toni and Guy. I’ve had some bad experiences in the past with hairdressers – there was the time the hairdresser who came to our house when I was about 12 made me look like a mole, and the time when I went to a new hairdresser who’d just come back to work after her mum had died and cried the whole time she blow-dried. Because of this, I had a bit of a phobia for a while, and used to have long hair, and cut it myself ... ...THE HAIR WASH
Toni and Guy are well known for their washes, and rightly so. The products always smell amazing, and once again the juniors are helpful and friendly. The stylist tells the junior exactly what to use, and then leaves them to it. You always seem to get two shampoos, and then a gentle head massage with the conditioner. The massage bit always relaxes me, sometimes even making me nod off if I’ve had a hard day – however, I must admit it ...
pesky33 13.08.2004 (26.09.2004)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Toni and Guy
Advantages: Freebie haircuts, friendly service, Disadvantages: May take longer than a normal cut, as the tutors will double check everything!
...again, at 16 with a Toni and Guy's Stylist who just wouldn't listen to what I wanted at all!!! I left with big, bouffant, backcombed US soap star hair, which surprisingly didn't suit a 5 foot nothing school girl!
2/ I also hate people coming up to me on the street and trying to sell me stuff!
So, it was a very bizarre and unusual set of circumstances that found me this morning sitting in the Toni and Guy Training Academy on New Oxford Street, acting ... ...man and woman, clutching their Toni and Guy Academy Training packs. The guy introduced himself as Rob, and explained that he was in his 3rd year of hairdressing and currently working on his diploma at the Academy, (just round the corner in New Oxford Street) and was looking for people willing to model particular cuts for him to be assessed on. Now as I have already said I really dislike being stopped on the street, but this pair were so friendly ...
daisydaisym 01.11.2005
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Toni and Guy
Advantages: Top Service, Professional Disadvantages: None
Toni & Guy
I have visited a few of Toni & Guy salons, so I now feel that I can write this review.
In 1963 Toni & Guy first salon opened in Clapham London. From there on in, there was no stopping them, nearly every big town has one. If I am correct they also have or are expanding abroad.
If you have visited 1 or more Toni & Guy salon’s you will notice that they are all the same, from the chairs to the sinks, the walls to the floor. Each salon is ... ...So off he went and Toni & Guy in Basildon built. After he left Chichester for Essex, there was only one thing for me to do. Drive 2 hours to get my hair cut, strange you may ask but very worth it. I then moved to Dorset, but Essex seemed to far from here. I tried the Bournemouth branch which was 30 minutes away. I asked for a top stylist which I was told I got. I got my hair cut; I asked for a trim my inch not yours, as I have curly/wavy hair. 2 ...
Jordon 01.09.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Toni and Guy
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Toni and Guy"
Advantages: easy to use, great results, smells great Disadvantages: price
I tried this balm because it was bought to me as a gift at my birthday and have to admit that it leaves you hair really managable and shiney.
This product when applied to your hair smooths it making it look less frizzy and dry and also makes it soft and healthy looking and full of moisture.
After using this product I noticed that my hair was much more softer than usual and easier to straighten, it left my hair easily managed to style and it smelt great, like when you use any Tony and Guy product.
This balm is applied to your hair after washing you apply a small amount of this balm to your hair and then blow dry and style as usual, its so easy to use that you dont even have to wash it out.
This smoothing balm doesnt come cheap, alike many Tony and Guy products and depending on the size of bottle that you buy and where you ...
Advantages: Helps damaged hair Disadvantages: Can make your hair look greasy if too much used
Toni & Guy - No Kinks Smoothing Balm
**WHAT DOES IT DO**
This is a balm which you put into your hair for sleeker, straighter, less fizzy looks. There are anti-humidity agents in it to hep reduce frizz and it helps seal cuticles in an instant. It gives your hair a glossy look and it looks better as the split ends aren't as visible. It also helps detangle your hair, leaving it look smoother and healthier.
**DIRECTIONS OF USE**
This product can be used on wet or dry hair. You put a small blob into your hand and rub it through your hair from root to tip. Make sure you put extra on the tips of your hair as this is where the most split ends are and the hair will be most damaged here. Then once you have rubbed the balm onto your hair and carefully comb through adding more as needed. With wet hair the salon tip is to blow dray using ...
Advantages: Makes your hair shiney and soft, smells good Disadvantages: None.
I had a voucher for money off Toni&Guy products in Boots so I picked this product up. It's usually about £6.99, but it's on offer along with other Toni&Guy products at 3 for £10 (Aug '09).
What is it?
Toni&Guy Finishing Shine Spray for sparkling shine is a finishing spray which adds a bit of shine to sleek, straight styles.
It comes in an 100ml spray bottle, which is clear so you can see the clear liquid within. It also has a silver pull of top. On the front it has the name of the product, sideyways of course. And on the back it has the directions, salon tips, warnings and the list of ingredients.
Ingredients
Alcohol denat, cyclopentasiloxane, cyclohexasilixane, phenyl trimethicone, parfum, dipropylene glycol, butylphenyl methylpropional, hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexenecarboxaldehyde, hydroxycitronellal, linalool ...
