London or Brighton hair colourists please

[Moneyissue2]

Where do you go to get your hair highlighted?

I’ve not touched my hair for years and years. For the last three years or so I’ve been toying with the idea of getting highlights. Where the heck do I go though?? Do you really just walk into your local hair dressers and hope for the best?

I’ve seen guy tang on YouTube, Idealy id like him to do my hair but I assume he’s not available to the general public?

I’ve got long very straight light brunette hair to my mid back. In sun light it looks very dark blonde even a bit ginger, it’s so hard to describe.

I’ve finally found styles I love on Pinterest, do I just take these somewhere and ask if they can recreate?

I can either go to London or Brighton and locally I have Rush branches. Can anyone recommend a fab colourist??

Thank you

Anyone?!?

Personally I'd recommend Four London in Conduit Street W1. Have been using their colourists for about 15 years! I've had highlights and tints done there. Always friendly, and professional.

I have a local hairdresser who is fab at colour . I don't think you need to pay mega money for a great hairdresser . Most of my friends use the very expensive salon in town which makes their hair very yellow when they have highlights .

Thanks wombat I shall take a look. It has literally taken me years to decide this is what I want to do so I know it’ll take me a long time to find the right place!

Thanks pig, you’re right, I’ve seen so many people pay top dollar and not be entirely happy with the end result, it’s a shame. I wonder if commiunication isn’t great or customers expect too much (hi, make me look like this Instagram model please ) and expectations aren’t managed, or if many colourists are just not very good!

I’m so excited about getting a head full of caramel highlights but I also know the ones I really love are on rich chocolate brown hair, and my hair is not rich chocolate brown!

Have a look at Aaron Russell. Not strictly in Brighton but Crawley, Handcross and East Grinstead so they are all accessible from Brighton. They specialise in colour and are amazing at balayage. They have a big social media presence and take a before and after of every client so you can get an idea of what they do.

www.aaron-russell.net

I wouldn’t go back to any colourist now as it never turns out how I imagine it to be!

I go to the point in Brighton - I’ve been going for years and have a lot of colour. It always looks good. Also Electric in Brighton is good (also one in London). Rush is ok. Avoid headmasters

Fourlondon looks lovely! £330 for a colour director full head of highlights! I’d pay it if I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. Might have to book myself a consultation, thanks again wombat.

Anyone else have any specific salon recommendations where the colourists are excellent?!?
(I think I’ll have a lot of consultations before I decide)

Thank you very much lady and resting. I’ll shall look. Crawley handcross snd east Grinstead is VERY close to home but I have not heard of these.

Again, this isn't strictly in either of your locations but also Leo Bancroft in Weybridge is great. They actually do what you ask them to do!!

Can’t recommend specific people at AR, but they have portfolios online from each stylist so you can see their work. Hope you manage to find someone fab!

I was going to say that FourLondon is going to be expensive...

Would recommend Percy and Reed. They are super friendly. Avoid Richard Ward. Very stuck up and up themselves!

I have always found Charles Worthington stylists to be excellent.

Don't forget, wherever you go they'll want to do a patch test first. So you need to go and then return at least 24 hrs later.

@Moneyissue2 I think you must live near me. I'm happy to give you the details of my freind who has a degree in colour and does my balayage . I have very difficult hair but she manages it well . I won't be offended if not because I understand how important a trusted person is .

Thanks all! I’m just popping my photos on for the consultation for AR!

Sorry I should have been more clear, the furthest I could travel to (and expected more recommendations to be in) is london/Brighton, but I’m located bang in the middle so can also go anywhere in between

Pig I love your hair. As mine is poker straight I envy curls! Thank you for your offer, I’ll keep searching salons and get some consultations but thank you x

Alwynn Griffiths at Aveda Institute Covent Garden is God for highlights- the best colourist ever. And a genius with straight fine hair. DO NOT have balayage- it is great on wavy hair but is impossible to get right more than once on straight hair.

Thanks Sparta, will look it up. That’s exactly what I have, long straight fine hair. I loved the idea of balayage when I saw it on YouTube but I have seen so many in real life that I’m really not keen on so will stick with highlights.

I’m wondering if they can frame my face a bit too to stop me looking like the woman from the Addams family.

I have mine done at Rush, and have been doing it for years now. It's not cheap, but my stylist is very good

... in London, that should say!

This guy. He's a gem. I've recommended him before to the delight of fellow mumsnetters. He's amazing. His highlights and especially blending skills are to die for. Plus you get a private studio experience where you are really listened to and it will never be a rushed job.

www.markandersonhair.co.uk/

They can! Vince is your go-to man for the cut at Aveda. And it's so lovely there, very friendly and smells great. Good luck whatever you decide! Fellow straight hair sufferer x

@affectioninacoldclimate I emailed Mark Anderson last Friday & again on Thursday after seeing all the recommendations on here, he hasn’t got back to me😥 do you know if perhaps he is away or maybe takes a long time to reply?
Apologies for hijack of thread.

Sorry thing I got name wrong above message for @affectionincoldclimate

I recommend Natural Colour Works in Soho. All natural so no nasty chemicals and colour lasts forever. Lovely atmosphere too. Cannot rate it highly enough!