Would YOU trust a student with a pair of scissors? (Vidal Sassoon School of Hairdressing)

Member Name: hellyphant

Product:	Vidal Sassoon School of Hairdressing
Date:	22/05/02 (23869 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap and cheerful, you'll usually get a pretty good cut, an 'experience'

Disadvantages: Don't risk asking for anything remotely radical - sometimes students aren't too good, takes a long time, can be quite scary

Long hair, short hair, curly hair, straight hair. Blonde, chestnut, auburn, black.

I love hair. I love it when it's freshly washed and it lightly bounces around your shoulders as you walk down the street. I love the way the sun makes it gleam and shine, the way ringlets cascade down backs, and glossy locks swish from side to side in the breeze.

All imperfections fade to insignificance when hidden by a curtain of beautiful hair.

My hair has the ability to look very good. (if I do say so myself). It falls just below my shoulders, is very thick, and on a good day, quite curly. Normally it's brown, but in the sun other colours such as gold and red seem to magically appear.

Bad days are unfortunately far more common. And it was a bad day, a very very bad day, when I came face to face with the dreaded bathroom mirror a couple of weeks ago. The phrase - 'dragged through a bush backwards' sprung to mind. Frizzy, bushy, and straggly, I looked a wreck. I'd gone past the 'getting away with it' stage. I HAD to get a haircut. And fast.

Hairdressers in London, like most things, are ridiculously expensive, and that's the reason I rarely go. The last time I went I paid £22.00 for a simple trim, with an additional £2.00 charge for every extra product put on my hair - that included intensive conditioner, mousse, and a styling spray - making the total cost a disgusting £28.00.

Unwilling to part with such a large amount of money again, I moaned and groaned to my boyfriend for several days until...... click! A light switched on in my dim brain. I remembered The Vidal Sassoon School of Hairdressing. A hazy memory of my days as a penniless student. Dare I risk it now I was so much older and wiser? (ho hum) Well, why not. How hard can it be for a student to cut in a straight line?

=======So, what exactly is The Vidal Sassoon School of Hairdressing =============

I'm sure
you've all heard of the famous, and rather pricey Vidal Sassoon. If you're feeling flush, then, first of all I hate you, and secondly, ditch the school, grab your prada handbag, and trot off down the proper Sassoon.

However, for cheap skivvies like me, The Vidal Sassoon School will just have to do. It's basically what its title implies (clever that!). Students from around the world come to the school to learn how to be 'proper' hairdressers; they have their theory lessons, and they have their practicals - when they're set loose on brave members of the public.

Your hair will be normally be cut by a Chinese girl (or if you're lucky - like I once was - a fit Australian Hunk à la Jason Donovan in his early days) A qualified Vidal Sassoon teacher will be on hand throughout to give the student advice, and in extreme cases, to furiously take over before you either become completely bald or your hair is coloured green instead of the honey blonde you asked for.

How do I get there ======================

The School is very easy to find. Shuffle out of Bond Street tube station, pushing those annoying tourists out of your way. (You know Bond Street, that place where the rich and famous shop, just off Oxford Street And if you don't, then tsk...do yourself a favour and read my opinion on Oxford Street) Now, from Bond Street Station, you'll have a very short walk, approximately 5 minutes, less if you have an uncontrollable urge to jog. Well, you never know. If it's a bad hair day, chances are it'll also be a fat and ugly day.

Don't be lured into the shiny shops. You've got an appointment to keep. So, turning left out of the station, take the first turning on your left down Davies Street. Trot along for a few minutes, ignoring the first 2 turnings. It's the 3rd on the left you want. 56 Davies Mews. And there you are - there's The Vidal Sassoon School of Hairdressing.

F
irst Impressions=========================

The actual building doesn?t look too impressive. In fact it looks more like an unused warehouse than a hairdressers. But first appearances aren't everything are they. There will no doubt be several groups of gaggling Chinese students with 'interesting' hairstyles and big chunky boots hanging around just outside the doors. Don't be put off. Most of them are very friendly, and I'd personally rather have my hair cut by an interesting Chinese girl, than a badly permed Sharon in stilettos.

Once inside, you'll find yourself in reception. It looks a little bit more like a hairdresser now, with a very tasteful black and white colour combination. Reception is normally fairly busy, but you'll be seen pretty quickly. Something I do have a few qualms about is the fact the first thing you're told is how much your particular hair cut will cost and are faced with an outstretched perfectly manicured hand demanding you pay up immediately. So basically, if they make a complete hash of your beautiful hair, it'll be too late to refuse to pay. Your money will be long gone.

Well, you have to take some risks in life, and you'll be hard pressed to find anywhere cheaper. That's the way I look at it.

So how many pennies will it set you back====

Not too many, to be honest. In fact, none at all if you're lucky.

The School often offers special freebies, such as 'pay once, get your next cut free', and on occasion (when I was a desperate student) I was lucky enough to come across the odd 'Have a Free Haircut' ad in The Evening Standard. If you've got the time and you're desperate enough (listen up students!), a little investigation is well worth the effort. Give The School a ring to see if they have any special offers on at the moment (0207 318 5202).

The perfectly manicured receptionist may well give scroungers a filthy l
ook, but who cares, you're not parting with a single penny.

For you not so lucky people, here are the standard prices for the paying customer...

~*~*
Haircut - inclusive of blow drying, and all products used.
Adult. Non Concession £8.50

*~*~*
Concessions: - Student (with NUS card)/OAPs/Income Support - £5.50

*~*~*
Colour (Tint) - £17.50

*~*~*
Full Head - £32.50

Booking appointments=======================

~*~*~* Contact number - 0207 318 5202

~*~*~* Appointment times - well, here's where student and pensioner favouritism comes in, because Saturday appointments are quite rare. I managed to squeeze myself in on a Saturday afternoon, but had to wait 3 weeks for it.

*~*~* Mon - Fri 10am or 2pm for a cut
*~*~* Mon - Fri 9.30am or 1.30pm for colour

The Eating Up Of Your Day===================

Time is something you're going to need a lot of. You are actually informed by a rather large notice as you walk in the door, that you need to allow approximately 2 ½ - 3 hours for your hair cut. From experience, I know that this time scale isn't entirely accurate. I once spent well over 4 hours in the cutting chair, and another time, I was in and out in just over an hour. It really depends on the confidence of the student. Nervous students will spend hours fiddling with each strand of hair.

The Procedure=============================

The receptionist will hand you a plastic disc - similar to those you're given in changing rooms in clothes shops. You'll be asked to please take a sit on the long black squidgy bench, usually squashed up tight, next to a penniless student, or a very enthusiastic and talkative pensioner. Eventually a teacher will appear from down the stairs, ask you what you want doing and then tell you to follow either the blue group or the red group, depending on the colour of your badge. It's li
ke being on a school trip, and you'll find yourself looking for a 'friend' to walk in twos with.

If you're having a fat day, you'll be happy to discover you have several flights of stairs to climb. If you're a pensioner, you won't be too happy and you may need a helping hand.

At last, you find yourself in the salon, or is it a classroom... Your coat will be whisked off your shoulders and a small Chinese girl will be waiting to meet and greet you. I know I keep going on about the Chinese, that's because the majority of students usually are, but there are students who come from places like Iceland and South Africa, and there's always a fair few Italians showing off their snipping skills too.

The Panic===============================

I was a little worried at first as I thought my hair was going to be cut dry. It happened once before, (and at a proper hairdressers too!) - my hair was simply sprayed with water instead of actually being washed and conditioned. Admittedly, I was charged a lot less, but even I know that one of the main rules of hairdressing is that you never ever cut dry as it doesn't give an accurate enough indication of what you're cutting off and whether you're cutting in a straight line, especially if the hair is curly like mine.

Being too shy for my own good, I would never have the courage to criticise or challenge a hairdresser to their face. So I just sat in the cutting chair biting my nails while my student made small talk for 10 minutes.

When I was eventually led to the sink I was so relieved. It turned out we were just waiting for the go-ahead from the teacher. I could breathe again. My hair was safe. So far...

The Hair Wash=============================

I love having my hair washed and my head always welcomes a good strong massage. Some hairdressers get it spot on, and others just tickle me with scared little hands, worried
they might hurt me. I have to say that on this occasion, and in fact every other occasion when I've been to the Vidal Sassoon School, the whole washing experience has been absolute heaven, bliss, perfection. If I could collect enough freebie vouchers from the newspaper, I'd be down the School every weekend for one orgasmic massage after the other.

I was asked if I use conditioner. Doesn't everyone? I asked for something intensive, and extra strong. And I was very pleased to be given exactly what I wanted.

With my hair luxuriously light on my head and a towel round my shoulders, I was then led to the 'cutting chair'...

The Cutting Rhythm ================

It'll be several hours before you're able to step down from the 'cutting chair' so you're going to need some form of entertainment to keep your feet tapping and to help your student snip to the beat without losing interest. Music is essential, and TV and videos an added bonus.

In this area, the School sadly let me down. There was something wrong with the CD player when I arrived and we all had to sit in eerie silence for the first ½ an hour. All you could hear was slow motion snip snip sniping, and the students muttering under the breath "It's too quiet, it's too quiet".

When the CD player was eventually fixed, out tinkled a pretty rubbish selection of dance tracks. I was very unimpressed and so were my feet, they refused to tap to such rubbish, and as a result I was attacked by a multitude of pins and needles. And then I kept nodding off (old lady that I am!) and had to have my drooping head yanked upright on several occasions.

I've been to hairdressers where the music's been all upbeat and sing-a-long and the TV's been on and videos have been played. But you have to remember that this is a School, not a proper hairdresser where everything is top-notch quality, and you're of
fered tea and biscuits in reception.

=So, can a student cut in a straight line=

I have never had a bad experience at The School, but then I never ask for anything radical. A straightforward trim isn't really brain surgery, hey, even *I* could manage that (<cough>, although my sister would probably disagree)

I'm sure there are some students who would have no problems with a difficult haircut or a dramatic colour change. But to be honest, it's really not worth the risk. Of course, if you really feel the need, it's always possible to make a dramatic exit half way through the cut. Like my Granny one time, who jumped up out of her chair, shrieked "Sorry, got a train to catch", and simply ran, leaving her incompetent student open mouthed, scissors still in hand, mid cut.

The teacher will always be available to correct any minor mistakes the student might make. And the teachers are always very very good, laden with hairdressing qualifications and years of experience. If you're lucky, then the teacher will be the overbearing, "I must do everything" type, and the student will continually be pushed to the side. Ok, poor student and all that, but think of number 1 and the potential gorgeousness of your luscious barnet.

While I was having my hair very slowly snipped, I had a nose round the room and didn't notice any major disasters. In fact, everyone looked rather wonderful, although that could have been due to the fact that they all looked like models, from hair to waist to legs. Grrrrr.

My only gripe was to emerge during the blow-drying. My student got a little carried away chatting to a fellow colleague and totally over dried my poor locks. The cut was fine, but when the hair drier was turned off, I looked a tad worse for wear. The teacher quickly spotted me from across the room and came bounding over. Out of the cupboard came the miracle worker - the Vidal Sassoon Int
ensive Conditioning Hair Repair Cream. It was smoothed onto my frizzled locks and my curls were scrunched with moisture until they shone and gleamed and the frizz had completely disappeared...Panic over...Thank god for the teacher and that Vidal Sassoon miracle worker.

My student was now proud enough of the final outcome to take a photograph of me for her Successful Hair Cutting folder.


==============After Thoughts===============

Why I love the Vidal Sassoon School of Hairdressing... (nosy people take note!)

I've never had a bad haircut, when I walk out of the salon doors, I still have plenty of money in my purse for some quality West End shopping (Well, what's the use of beautiful hair if you haven't got any decent clothes to set it off), and, perhaps just as importantly, the School is a nosy person's paradise - a far more interesting place to eavesdrop than your common "Where are you going on holiday" hair salon. For a start, the students are always full of juicy x-rated gossip. And there'll always be at least 2 students (usually the hunky Australian boy and the supposedly meek Chinese girl) who fancy each other and who will purposely rub bottoms and bump breasts in passing. And to top it off, the variety of nationalities, from Italian to Chinese, to Icelandic to Arabic - makes every student very different and interesting to talk to. As long as you don't get the Australian boy just after he's had the brush off from the Chinese girl!

So what more can I say. You're poor, you want beautiful hair, and you're into nosing - give the School a call and get yourself sorted.

*~*~*~*~*~*0207 318 5202*~*~*~*~*~*~*



To purchase any Vidal Sassoon products, visit the website - www.vidalsassoon.co.uk <http://www.vidalsassoon.co.uk> and order online. I totally recommend it!

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