Do “ordinary” people go to posh hairdressers?

[Iorderedyouapancake]

My hair has been pretty awful the last few years thanks to perimenopausal hair loss which has really affected my self esteem - I’ve been considering going to a fancy London salon to get it done in the hope of giving myself a bit of a boost - but on their instagram all of their customers are impossibly glamorous young things or very polished “ladies who lunch” - I know I would feel quite self conscious in a salon full of other customers like that - so just wondered, is it just that they put the most attractive people on their social media (understandable I guess!) and actually have “normal” looking customers, or will an overweight, middle aged woman with thinning hair stand out like a sore thumb?

If they are worth their salt they will do their utmost to make you look and feel wonderful. Maybe arrange a consultation first if you are nervous. I’m sure though that you will be treated like a queen. People of all ages /types use posh hairdressers especially for a much saved up for treat so I don’t think it will just be ladies lunch. Have a fabulous time!

I don’t go to a ‘posh’ hairdresser, but she is in London and charges £170 to trim my hair.

My husband once sent me to a posh Knightsbridge one. It was £400 (20 years ago) and not a great haircut.

Everybody looks terrible with wet hair and in those big ponchos. It’s the great equaliser. 😄 You’ll look fabulous coming out.

Yes, I do. It costs me a small fortune, and I try to ration to stretch it out to 3 - 4 visits a year, but the cut and colour is so good I think of it as an investment and try save money in other areas to justify it. You can literally smell the money as you walk in the salon(!), and I do feel a bit out of place if I'm honest. However the other customers are actually pretty friendly and chatty, and the staff are so incredibly kind and attentive I never feel like I'm not welcome. I always come out feeling a million dollars- something easier said than done with my perimenopausal hair! I'd say do your research on the individual stylists though, just because someone works at a fancy salon doesn't mean that you'll particularly like what they'd do with your hair. I had a few false starts to find someone who cuts my hair in a way I really love.

Agree with @SkyBlu2

A great salon will make you feel welcome, listened to and work with your hair to give you the best version of you. Request a consultation and outline your specific circumstances.

They will tactfully steer you away from things that won’t work - cut and/or colour - and help you evolve it over the years too.

They won’t let you leave the salon looking anything but fabulous and will check in post cut too.

Yes, expensive but so, so worth it. You wear your hair every day. It is an investment.

I first went following hair loss. I had to have a drastic cut but it looked so brilliant because of the sheer expertise of the team. They advised me on growing it out when my hair came back and on subsequent for loss periods on life - illness, stress, peri etc. Supplements, tricks, products etc. Now I never have a bad hair day, and that is down to their work, not mine. I don’t have to think about my hair day to day - a price worth paying.

I always book the next appointment before leaving the salon. Then I don’t have to think about it.

I used to be fearful of hairdressers after some mixed experiences in my youth. No more. Of all the things I worry about, my hair is no longer a worry and makes me look and feel better.

Go for it!

I just had a bad colouring experience at a posh London hairdresser. Heading back in for a correction next week but I've lost confidence in the colourist. Any recommendations??

@BlackSwan Firstly, have a conversation so they know that is how you are feeling and make a plan ahead of the correction. The most senior and experienced colourist should be in the mix if they are not already. Good salons are collegiate and share and support knowledge and skills to give you the best result.

The team at FOUR London are outstanding. Skilled, lovely and not at all intimidating.

Not sure - how do you know if your hairdresser is a posh one ?

Had my hair cut at George Northwood and Michael Fassbender was in there having a trim. Everyone was lovely, from the reception team to the top stylists. They want to cut your hair and give you a good experience. I love it there and I am a middle aged ordinary woman!

The only hairdresser in my village is a posh one. All sorts go in there. The only obvious missing group is old women with grey perms - loads of those live locally, but I've never seen them getting their hair done.

I remember when Jennifer Aniston in the 90s went to Hari's in South Kensington, their prices rocketed. I had a hair cut a decade later, about 105, was one of the best haircuts ever. A bar inside serving drinks .. but still not posh

I'm not persuaded you need a posh London hairdresser but you do need a very very good hairdresser. Mine is in Parsons Green. Not cheap but not silly prices either. About £180 for a cut, colour and blow dry. I have to do hardly anything to my hair, the cut is so good. Happy to pm you with details.

Yes totally. I go to one exactly twice a year, my hairdresser knows this and does an amazing cut and balayage type thing which really lasts. It really isn’t full of ladies who lunch types tbh , it’s just a chill environment and I always enjoy a good gossip with my stylist , he’s lovely. Tbh a lot of staff at the salon were really hit financially during and after covid , so there’s zero snobbery about who’s rich enough as I know for example my stylist nearly lost everything and is grateful for every client that supported him during the hard times.