Curly girl method hairdresser

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Hi,
I'm so fed up with my hair. It's straggly, thin and generally awful. I've half heartedly been following the curly girl method but I'm going to go a bit mad on Devacurl products to try and get it in better condition.

Then I'm going to be a 35 this year so I want to treat myself to a decent haircut. I've NEVER found a good hairdresser for curly hair and I'm after recommendations. I live north of London about an hour on the train so I'm happy to get to London but also place like Cambridge. I want someone that will look at it and say a style and colour that will suit and cut it dry. Someone who actually cares what I look like when I leave the salon. If I find someone good I'll pay well and travel far for the next 35 years!

Please tell me someone knows a good hairdresser!

Try Matthew James at Puro in Birmingham. Trained with Lorraine Massey and does the Devacut. Waiting list is months long though. Have a look at his website.

Matt now has his own salon called Spring, still in Birmingham city centre. He is brilliant!

maybe not what you are after but I sorted my curly mess by cutting it myself. I watched lots of YouTube videos (look for "deva cut") and got a pair of scissors. looks brill. get lots of comments. but I live verrry far up north with no curly hair dresser in sight. I was desperate.

Unruly curls in London (very close to Westfield). Went a couple of weeks ago, and it was a revelation. Quite reasonable, no hard sell of products (in fact, they barely have or use any!) but a very good curly cut that the stylist told me would grow well so I don't need to go back for quite a few months, and loads of advice on how to look after my hair while she was doing it.

I was already doing CG, but this has moved it to another level in terms of curliness and ease of maintenance.

Thanks science. Thinking of using a London one as I tend to go there for odd days out so can try and combine the two.

I've not found the right product yet. I've been trying the tresemme naturals one but o don't think the shampoo is properly 'curly' friendly. I've tried the body shop one but I don't get on with the shampoo. I'm thinking of ordering the proper devacurl stuff but it's ever so expensive. Any suggestions?

Can you avoid the shampoos and cowash? I mostly just use the tresemme naturals conditioner to wash, condition, and as a leave in on DD.

Have you tried the ORS Curls Unleashed range? I use the deep conditioner and mousse and it definitely makes a difference to my curls. I can't cowash though, it just makes my scalp feel really greasy, so I use a L'Oreal Ever Riche shampoo that's sulfate-free.

I'm using joico curls at the moment, which is great. Will move onto Cantu when they are finished though. It was what they used at unruly and is pretty reasonable. That's just the shampoo though, as most conditioners are CG friendly - I have Sainsburys basic Apple conditioner lined up next!

Have gone no poo since August. I use Faith in Nature conditioner which I buy in Oxfam stores. My hairdresser used to douse my hair in "products" and blow dry to kingdom come. She is a very good stylist (Hannah at Easton Regal in Clerkenwell). Last time i went I took my own conditioner, and asked her not to use products when blow drying and she was happy to go along with it.
My fairy is thick and wavy but with this new technique it is now a lot less frizzy.

Thanks, some brands I haven't heard of to try there.

Any more central London suggestions for a hairdresser? When I go I'm around Whitehall and it would be great if I found someone more central having thought about it a bit.

I've been looking at the ORS Curls unleashed. Good they're in boots but they do seem to be for very curly hair. Anyone got any experience?

I really like the ORS deep conditioner and mousse (they also smell lovely) but I imagine they're better suited to thick hair. If your hair is fine then they might be too heavy and weigh it down.