Tiscali rocks! I can now be online ANY TIME, cor blimey, guv. So, i'm going to try and catch up with...
Tiscali rocks! I can now be online ANY TIME, cor blimey, guv. So, i'm going to try and catch up with alerts. let me know if you're mad at me for not reading something, and i'll bawl in a corner...
Member since:23.07.2003
Reviews:160
Members who trust:111
I decided after my most recent haircut (2 days ago) to extol the 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 (not very well).
I chose Toni and Guy because a friend had told me about their relaxinghair washing technique – I thought this might be a perfect way to relax myself before a haircut. I also used my tried and tested “I like the look of her, I’ll ask for her to cut my hair” method, and chose Victoria because she reminded me of my friend Nicola. Thankfully, both factors contributed to a good decision, and I now actively enjoy going to the hairdresser.
FINDING IT
There are two branches in Leeds; the one in the Victoria Quarter, and the one near the train station. I go to the Victoria Quarter one, not because it’s posher or anything (but it is) but just because I saw that one first.
It’s a fairly small shop, without a sign hanging outside like other shops in the same parade. The only way I know which
bit of the confusing maze of the Victoria Quarter it is in is by looking for the Long Tall Sally sign that hangs next door. When you go inside, it’s always full of people, no matter what time of day it is. There are usually two people on reception, a phone ringing, and about five people sitting waiting.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
I’ve always found all the juniors working there to be friendly, but I do particularly like the young bloke who usually works on reception, as he’s very friendly, always offers me a drink, and always gives me a big enough cape to wear.
Victoria herself is an absolute diamond. I was definitely right to go with my first instinct – she’s a really friendly woman, who always remembers everything you say to her, which shows me she actually listens rather than just asks questions for the sake of saying something. She’s obviously well respected by the rest of the staff, and she teaches some days so she is also obviously well skilled. Finally, and this will sound very shallow, I really like Victoria, as she doesn’t seem to be as outlandishly ‘trendy’ as some of the other stylists – she has simple hair, wears classic clothes, and has a permanent grin.
CONSULTATION
The first time I went for a haircut, Victoria sat me down, and talked about how I felt about my hair. She could tell straightaway that I wasn’t comfortable, and also that my haircut didn’t seem to suit my personality. Once we had chatted about what I wanted, and she’d done that usual hairdresser thing of flicking my hair between her fingers, she suggested a few ideas before taking me over to the basins.
I thought that this service had been just for my first visit, and so I was pleasantly surprised that she did it at my next visit. This is one of the reasons why I’ll gladly fork over extra money each visit – it makes me feel looked after, and most importantly, that I’m going to be getting what I ask for and not what the stylist wants to do.
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 relaxes me a little less now that they have installed television screens showing music videos just above the sinks, as I tend to watch them and try and work out who they are. I don’t know why I can’t re-create this at home, even with the same shampoo, but I never need to wash my hair the next day, unlike every other day.
THE HAIR CUT
The chairs in Toni and Guy are always positioned in front of large mirrors (as in most hairdressers) that have always been a bit of a problem for me (cause of my BDD) – luckily there are some television screens installed near the chairs as well as the sinks, so I tend to concentrate on looking at them and not myself. The chairs are plushly padded, and they have a little ledge for your feet, making it really comfortable to sit there for the standard hair cut time of about half an hour.
For me, the sign of a good hairdresser is that they do most of the hair cutting while it’s dry, and this seems to be standard practice at Toni and Guy. Victoria will usually cut a bit off while it’s wet, but she spends about the same amount of time after drying as she does before drying. This confused me the first time, as she started blow-drying my hair after about ten minutes, and I started to feel cheated.
An important thing for me about hairdressers is that they don’t babble constantly about rubbish – I can’t speak for all the stylists there (having never had anyone else) but Victoria is really pleasant to chat to, and doesn’t ever talk for the sake of it. If she has nothing to say, she doesn’t speak, and that’s just the way I like it.
One thing to note about the haircuts, is that each stylist is trained in the same way, so if you do ever see another stylist they should, in theory, recreate your haircut exactly.
For me, the best thing about choosing Victoria over other stylists is her imaginative approach to hair styling. She always has plenty of ideas about what I ought to try, which aren’t always the latest trends, and she likes the fact I can be experimental – she’s often told me that it can be repetitive hairdressing when everyone wants the same cut. I think she enjoys cutting my hair as much as I enjoy going to her!
PRODUCTS
Unlike other hairdressers, I never feel pressurised to buy the products. I dye my hair at home, which isn’t a problem to them, and whilst I like all the products Victoria uses on my hair, I’ve only ever bought one, the Tigi Manipulator, as it lasts an absolute age and smells delicious.
If you’re into products though, you won’t find a better range, and they aren’t as expensive as some other salons. The shampoo is £6 for a huge bottle, and as it’s salon quality, you don’t need very much, meaning it actually lasts more than twice as long as one you might buy in Boots for half the price.
PRICES
This is the major downfall to Toni and Guy – whilst I think it’s worth spending £42 on a haircut I love, lots of people won’t! In my defence, my hair doesn’t usually need cutting as often as it would at another salon, because the cut is so well done, it keeps its shape for longer. I go about four times a year, making my hair dressing bill about £160 – with short hair, I would usually have to go every month to a different hairdresser, which could cost £240 (at £20 a time, which is what I used to pay). Of course, different stylists charge different amounts due to training – if you go for one of the other stylists, it could be a little less, but I think Victoria is worth every penny.
IN CONCLUSION
I might be one of the lucky ones, in that I have a friendly, highly skilled, regular hair stylist who I don’t mind paying a bit extra for, but I get the impression that everyone who goes there goes because they are ensured of a quality cut in a clean, friendly atmosphere. They all go out smiling anyway.
www.toniandguy.co.uk - for your nearest branch
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
thanks for the information, im glad you found a great hairdresser, i will look for a salon near to me and hoe i find a 'Victoria'
Angel-Face 17.01.2005 09:29
I use them and really happy
Jaynestep 09.11.2004 12:43
We have one of these in Middlesbrough but I've always been scared to go in cos everyone looks so trendy and I feel like I would be judged for going in, in my trainees and jumper. I might try it now though, Fab review. x x
Toni and Guy's Jumbo Curl and Wave Tong takes only 60 seconds to heat up and gives ... more
unmatchable professional results. Featuring Colour Lock Tourmaline, it helps maintain colour intensity by locking in moisture for a shiny finish. The 38mm barrel achieves loose natural curls or waves.
Postage & Packaging:£3.95 Availability:In stock. 3 working days
Toni and Guy's award-winning hairstyling knowledge is behind their Signature 2000W AC ... more
Dryer, for professional results. The long-life dryer includes a salon-level motor with a turbo-shot for extra power and a cool-shot to set your style. The Signature 2000W AC Dryer boasts a removable rear filter for easy cleaning, with a 3m cable and hanging loop.
Postage & Packaging:£3.95 Availability:In stock. 3 working 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...
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...
Aug 13th, 2004
(Sep 26th, 2004)
exceptional by (11%):
very helpful by (86%):
helpful by (1%):
somewhat helpful by (1%):
not helpful by (1%):
