A quick heads up! (Saks Hair Salons)

Member Name: hypno06

Product:	Saks Hair Salons
Date:	27/07/09 (136 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A decent cut from an understanding stylist.

Disadvantages: I will have to factor it into my future budgets!

I would like to start by saying that this is a review of the Norwich salon only.

I believe that the relationship you have with your hairdresser is very important - your hairdresser needs to know, not only what you want in terms of a hairstyle, but what you need out of the whole experience. For example....... Do you see having your hair cut as a wonderful experience that makes you feel good, or as a bit of a necessary evil? Do you like to chat about where you are going on your hols, or do you just want to be allowed an hour of time to yourself where you don't have to answer to anyone?

When you find a hairdresser that you get on with, and who makes you feel a million dollars, you do your best to hold on to them. This is how I felt for several years - comfortable with my stylist, and happy to pay the slightly inflated price for knowing that I wouldn't have to answer mindless questions about the weather, whether I have got my Christmas shopping yet, or my next trip away.

Then my stylist left, and for the last 4 years or so I have "drifted". The lack of a "comfort zone" combined with a lack of funds, meant that I put off going to a salon, any salon, unless it was absolutely necessary. As a result of going to some rather cheap and cheerful place, plus one rather expensive place that was recommended to me by a friend, but that I came out of almost in tears (see, it really is a personal thing, this hair malarky!), coupled with lack of time, confidence, and money, my hair has become neglected and unloved, and I became less and less confident about going into another new salon.

Then I got a voucher for a free haircut at our local Saks salon. On the basis that I needed desperately to get my hair cut, and that the worst that would happen would be that I would spend a bad hour talking about my holiday, and end up coming out in tears, but wouldn't have actually spent anything, I decided it was a risk worth taking.

I made the appointment by telephone and was given a choice of dates to suit me. The salon does not seem over busy, and I would guess judging by the other salons around the city that this is not specific to Saks, but is more a general "state of the economy" thing.

So, to the day of my appointment. I was a few minutes early, so was offered a choice of coffees. This was a good sign indeed - especially as they knew I was paying by "voucher".

I was then taken upstairs and my stylist asked me what I was looking to achieve - at this point I admitted my lack of confidence with hairdressers and he completely took me under his wing, explaining what he felt he should do, and why......talking about face shape, age, drawing attention to my eyes etc. I immediately felt at ease and comfortable - and allowed my stylist to do his thing.

Throughout the whole process, washing, cutting, and styling, he explained what he was doing and why - not in a patronising way, or a "text book/automated" manner, but as a "I want you to feel comfortable with everything" way.

I was even given a second coffee......remember, I wasn't even paying for this appointment!

An hour after I arrived, I was ready to leave, revived, less frumpy, and wanting to book another appointment for a few weeks' time this time, happy to part with my £35 for a cut and blow dry.

I know that some will say £35 is expensive for a haircut, but I would compare it with any other beauty therapy treatment (for example, a 45 minute back massage) and would say that for time and effort spent, this is actually a very reasonable amount. I have been to a couple of those £10 turn up and wait salons, where the clock is ticking as soon as your bum hits the chair and it feels more like being on a conveyorbelt than being in a salon!

Saks are a franchise operation with 140 salons across the country. It goes without saying, therefore, that some will be better than others - some stylists better than others, but a lot of it will come down to your personal preference.

All I can say is, based on my personal experience, I would happily recommend the Norwich salon, and if I found myself in another town or city and needed a haircut, I would chance it at another branch of Saks.

You can go online to find your nearest salon and their contact details on www.saks.co.uk

Summary: Not a bad way to spend an hour or so.