Is it worth crossing town for a hairdresser?

Short answer: for a cut and blow-dry, probably not: use the good salon near you. For chemistry that changes how your hair behaves for months, the person matters more than the postcode.

If you’re in Belgravia or Pimlico, you’ve got the Victoria line on the doorstep. Pimlico and Victoria both run straight to Oxford Circus without a change, and Maddox Street is a minute from there. So the trip is easier than it sounds. The real question is whether it’s worth it.

When your local salon is fine

• A cut, a blow-dry, colour you’re happy with.
• A smoothing↓DOWN you’ve had before, from someone you trust, with results you liked.

Don’t cross town for things that are already working.

When it’s worth the trip

• Your hair has history. Bleach, a previous straightening↓DOWN, a perm that went wrong, a keratin that didn’t “wash out”. This is where a specialist earns the fare.
• You’ve been told “we only do one keratin”. A salon with one product has to make every head fit that product. I choose the chemistry for the hair in front of me.
• You want it to look natural, not done. Knowing where to stop is most of the skill.
• You want numbers, not adjectives. Straightment Semi: back after 1–4 months. Straightment Demi: about 60% of the curl out, roots after 4–8 months. Straightment Permanent: 80%+ of the curl out, for good on treated hair. Nothing is 100%.

How to test a specialist before you book

1. Ask what the active ingredient is. You should get a name, not a brand.
2. Ask what happens if your hair can’t take it. You should hear “I’ll tell you before anything is mixed”.
3. Ask what it costs for your length, before you arrive. Mine are on the price list.

Start without the journey

Do the online consultation from home: a questionnaire and six photos, and I reply within 72 hours, usually the same day. If it’s a yes, then you make the trip.

Near Knightsbridge or Chelsea instead? This one’s for you →

Online consultation → · Prices →

For men

Sides that stick out, frizz, flat or thinning hair, grey gone wiry: most of it can be sorted, and nobody will know you’ve had it done. The men’s pages → · Coming in from nearby →