Star ratings are easy to game and slow to update. What is actually useful is the content
of recent reviews. Look for ones that name a specific stylist or service — those are usually real.
A run of five-star reviews with no detail, posted close together, is worth ignoring.
Pay particular attention to how a salon responds to complaints. A defensive reply to a fair
criticism tells you more than fifty positive reviews.
Judge the service you want, not the salon overall
Salons are rarely good at everything. A place with brilliant colourists may be ordinary at
threading. When you read reviews, filter for the service you are actually booking.
What to check before you commit
- Is the price list visible? A salon that will not quote before you sit down is
a salon that adds charges after. - Are tools cleaned between clients? Watch for fresh towels and sanitised
implements — especially for pedicures and threading. - Do they ask questions? A stylist who asks about your hair history before
colouring is one who will not damage it. - Is the appointment realistic? Colour in ninety minutes is a rushed colour.
Start small with a new salon
Do not make your first visit a major colour appointment or bridal trial. Book something short —
a threading, a clean-up, a trim. You learn how they run, how long they actually take, and whether
they listen, for very little risk.
Bring a photo, not a description
The same words mean different things to different stylists. “Short layers” covers an enormous
range. A reference photo removes the ambiguity — and if a stylist tells you honestly that your hair
will not do that, take it as a good sign rather than a rejection.
