Fantastic Haircuts for £5 (Toni & Guy)

Member Name: 34_hobbes

Product:	Toni & Guy
Date:	02/09/02 (54765 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very cheap, Good cut, Definitely an experience!

Disadvantages: Only open Mon - Fri, Can take 3 hours plus, It might go wrong (but a teacher would correct it)

In desperate need of a good haircut and after reading Chinnyli's great opinion, I decided to take the plunge and become a hair model at Toni and Guy's Academy in London. It is their academy for trainee stylists. I have had long hair for about 5 years and I was very tempted to have it cut off into a sleek short style. My boyfriend was worried as he likes my long hair, but he said it was my decision. Very noble of him!

I rang up on the Thursday the week before I wanted to go and booked in for the following Friday morning. On the telephone they asked me what I wanted to have done and so I just said a restyle. I was quite nervous when Friday morning arrived. I had to get up early to catch the train to London because my appointment was at 9:45a.m. There were a few problems with the tube so I got off at Leicester Square and then it was about a 5-10 min walk from there. Tottenham Court Road is the nearest tube station though. It was very easy to find - I had printed off a map from the internet - just in case.

I was the first person to arrive and there was a sign on the door saying that I would be collected at 9:45a.m. and that I was to wait outside until them. Luckily it was good weather so I settled down to wait the fifteen nimutes. I did feel a bit self-conscious as I was by myself, and people kept walking past, reading the sign on the door, and looking at my hair! People kept on walking into the academy and I assumed that they were the trainee stylists. A constant stream of stylists then came out and hung around the front door smoking before going back in again. Not one of them spoke to me, I suppose I was only hair to them. If their hair was anything to judge by then I should have been sprinting for the train to take me home! They also had the most outlandish dress sense. It was great watching them, it certainly passed the time. I was getting a bit worried because no other models had turned up and I imagined the stylists fig
hting over me! Luckily other people did turn up. Then one girl who had been patiently queuing suddenly walked off and got on a bus. Did she know something that I didn't!?

At 9:45a.m. we were shown into the reception. They had my name on a list. I had to sign a form accepting that I might be there for hours and that if my personal belongings got lost then it was nothing to do with them. I was then gowned up and told to stand against the wall with the other hair models. If felt a bit like lining up to be shot! I had a quick look round at the other hair models and there were two men with long hair and the rest were female with all sorts of different hair. A man then went down the line and asked each person what they would like done to their hair. I was quite vague and said I would like to lose some of the length and would like somthing that suited me. Some people were picked out of the line and shown into another room - I still don't know why.

The rest of us were shown upstairs and then one by one another teacher asked us what we wanted and then they picked a student to cut our hair. As I neared the teacher I hurriedly tore a picture out of a hair magazine and showed it to him saying that it was what I wanted. I was then assigned to an Italian who shall remain nameless (all will be explained). He seated me at a mirror and then we waited for everyone else to be seated. It was a good chance to have a look around. It was a big room with sinks at one end. There was about 24 portable units with mirrors, so two students could use it at the same time, sitting on opposite sides of the mirror. There were big windows along one wall and there was always music playing so it felt very similar to sitting in a real salon minus the drinks.

There was more than one teacher and it seemed that each teacher would have about 10 students to look after and supervise. My stylist asked me if I would agree to having my hair put up first of al
l and then have it cut afterwards. He explained that he had passed all of his cutting tests and he just needed to pass the hair up one. I agreed, thinking that it can't take that long. 2 hours later he thankfully passed! I had had my hair backcombed three times and finally put up into a classic pleat that the teacher thought good enough. I had witnessed a few small tantrums from my Italian stlist along the way. It was very entertaining.

I was then taken to have my hair washed which was lovely. Tigi products really do smell great. He then started cutting my hair. He was very quick and I was slightly concerned that he was rushing. Nearly all the other models had been finished and there was only one other person left in the room. The teacher had to come over and check my hair at each stage of the haircut. This was very reassuring. He began blow drying it and I thought he was finished but afterwards be began cutting my hair again. It only took him about 1 hour to finish. He then used Tifi Headrush shine spray on my hair. I must admit, it's probably the best cut I've ever had. It has gone from long, to just below chin length and so far I think it does suit me. He then asked me to open my bag - I wasn't sure what for and I thought being Italian he might have got muddled up with his English but he was very insistent, so I dutifully opened my bag and he dropped the Tigi spray straight into it! I quickly zipped my bag up again and felt very naughty. He said that it was his way of thanking me because I had been so patient while he was putting my hair up. I wasn't about to complain, but now I hope you understand why he must remain nameless because I wouldn't want him to get into trouble.

From start to finish I was in there for 3 hours and it was definitely an experience. I would recommend it to anyone. Most of the models were also by themselves and so I didn't really feel out of place. When I left I kept o
n cathing glimpses of my hair reflected in shop windows I was passing and I couldn't believe how good it looked. I have now styled it a couple of time myself and it doesn't look as good, but I still like it, I just need to perfect my styling skills now. And the good news is my boyfriend also liked it. Phew!

I am going to try the Vidal Sassoon school of hairdressing next, so that I can compare the two.

The Toni and Guy Academy I went to focuses on cutting and restyling. The telephone number is 0207 836 0606 and the address is 75 New Oxford Street, London. They have another academy that does colour, perms and trims and that telephone number is 0207 487 3435 and the address is 33 St Christophers Place, London. Appointment times are 9:45a.m and 1:45p.m.

The cost is £5 but if you manage to find a voucher in local free newspapers then it will be free. I though it was fantastic value for money and it's great when colleagues ask me how much my new haircut cost because it looks really good and I say £5 - you should see the look on their faces! I will definitely be using the academy in the future.

I hope my opinion has given you some idea of what to expect if you decide to take the plunge and have your hair cut!

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